Welcome to team MSG, Ella and Ann!Ella - Tour Operator/The Adventurer This trip was the biggest adventure I’ve ever taken—both professionally and personally. It was a journey of firsts: my first long-haul flight, my first solo flight on the return leg, and most importantly, my first time flying with one of our touring groups.   Why Travel? I love travelling and exploring new cultures. By appreciating the little things such as enjoying the sunset, I want to give others the opportunity to view the world from different perspectives.  Dream destination My dream destination is the O Trek in Patagonia for its variety adventure, natural beauty, and the opportunity to disconnect from the everyday. The idea of spending several days in stunning landscapes such as glaciers, mountains, and remote trails is something I find both grounding and inspiring. It’s a chance to challenge myself while experiencing one of the most iconic trekking routes in the world.  Career highlights A highlight for me was working as a Unit Coordinator at a summer camp in the U.S. This involved me running camp and making sure the kids had an amazing time. I loved it because it combined leadership with living outdoors every day, whilst being fun and fast paced! Ann - Tour Operator/The Goat lady Career highlights A key highlight of my career was leading a group of over 50 elite swimmers on an overseas training camp to Dubai. I successfully managed the fundraising efforts to support both the swimmers and their families in attending the trip. While in Dubai, the athletes also had the opportunity to compete in the Dubai Open.  Why Travel? I was inspired to work in travel after having the incredible opportunity to explore the world as a former international swimmer. Through numerous trips, I not only experienced new countries and cultures but also became very familiar with the bottoms of many different swimming pools! These experiences sparked my passion for travel, and I’m now excited to bring that enthusiasm to MSG, —just like the ones I was fortunate enough to enjoy  Best visited December 2024, I was fortunate enough to take a career break and travel to New Zealand with my best friend, whose dad lives out there. We began our journey in Sydney to break up the long flight, before heading to Christchurch, which became our base. After spending Christmas there, we packed up the car and set off on an incredible 8-week road trip across both the South and North Islands.  We mostly camped along the way, occasionally treating ourselves to an Airbnb when we’d had enough of airbeds! I was lucky to explore a range of amazing places, including Kaikoura, kayaking around Abel Tasman National Park, celebrating New Year’s in Queenstown, cruising through Milford Sound, and hiking up Roy’s Peak.  Dream destination My dream destination is Alaska. I’ve always loved being surrounded by nature and exploring new hikes, and Alaska’s dramatic landscapes really appeal to me. The opportunity to witness wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat is something I’d truly enjoy. I’d also love the chance to finally see the Northern Lights—especially after a couple of unsuccessful attempts in both Iceland and Lapland! 

Ben in Canada This trip was the biggest adventure I’ve ever taken—both professionally and personally. It was a journey of firsts: my first long-haul flight, my first solo flight on the return leg, and most importantly, my first time flying with one of our touring groups.   That distinction brought a new level of responsibility, especially when it came to shepherding 79 enthusiastic Nantymoel RFC boys through Gatwick Airport. But with Tour Operator Ben Cooley by my side, we took it all in stride.  Getting onto the flight went smoothly, especially with the bonus of the lads breaking into song at the airport: a video that hit half a million views inside a week! After landing in Toronto, we guided the group to their coaches and on to their accommodation in the heart of Downtown. At that point, I had to break away to Union Station to catch a 90-minute coach to Niagara Falls for my next duties.  NIAGARA FALLS - TORONTO In Niagara, I met MSG’s very own Canadian, Julia, and stayed one night at the Great Wolf Lodge. An early morning wake-up call allowed me just enough time for a whirlwind tour of the Falls – an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime sight that more than made up for the short visit. Afterward, Julia and I joined two school groups, assisting with their inbound airport check-ins, before returning to Toronto to reconnect with Ben and Nantymoel RFC.  The next four nights were spent soaking in everything Toronto had to offer. I explored the city, took in a Toronto Blue Jays game alongside both Nantymoel RFC and the newly arrived Ystradgynlais RFC. The highlight, though, was Nantymoel’s first fixture against Crusaders Rugby Club. The match was a nail-biter, with the Welsh side edging out a 31–26 win. The post-match celebrations in the clubhouse – full of singing and players being arm in arm – truly embodied the spirit of rugby touring.  Thankfully, my singing initiations didn’t go viral.  OTTAWA & MONTREAL On awakening, I boarded a coach for the journey to Ottawa, rejoining Julia in her hometown. My accommodation for the night was certainly unique – the Saintlo Jail Hostel.  At least I got a cell to myself.   Julia gave me a fascinating city tour before exploring some of the local hotels and sights that house our touring school groups each year.  I wrapped up the tour with a final night in Montreal, where I established a great taste of the city. A personal highlight was jet boating through the Lachine Rapids – a must for anyone visiting the area.  The next day, upon arriving at Gatwick, I reunited with Ben and the Nantymoel squad at baggage claim, helped them onto their transfers home and headed north to MSG offices, officially bringing this incredible tour to a close.  WHAT I LEARNT I learned so much on this trip. First off – Canada is huge! I had no idea the journey to Ottawa would take over five hours.  But more than anything, I realised how special what we do really is. Seeing the faces, hearing the singing, and feeling the pure joy from the Nantymoel lads during that game is something I’ll never forget.  I also grew a lot as a person. Being able to use my CPD budget to build travel confidence was a massive plus, and I’m so grateful to MSG Tours for giving me the chance. 

We continued our Let’s Get Touring: ‘Club Together’ fundraising evenings, this time at Ammanford RFC.   Our Head of Events, Ross Harries adopts the hosting duties and brings together club members, tourists and special guests from the world of rugby to help raise money for the team’s tour.  The main event featured former Wales lock, Lou Reed, who joined Ross on stage to share stories from his playing days with the national team, the Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, and Sale Sharks.  Returning for their second MSG tour after taking Texas by storm in 2023, 68 players and supporters from the senior team will be embarking on an 11-day tour to South Africa in May 2026, starting in Cape Town and including Stellenbosch, and an overnight safari.  Get in touch to help plan your next touring adventure and fundraising evening. 

Our bucket-list IV trip didn’t get off to the easiest of starts with a fire outbreak at a power station near Heathrow putting the whole trip into jeopardy. A cancelled flight, 3 hours on hold to Virgin Atlantic and plenty of itinerary re-arrangements later, we were finally on the road, 24 hours later than originally planned.  A day in the life for us tourism folk!’   Straight off the plane, we picked up our rental car and took the short drive to the iconic Newlands cricket ground (where the Western Province and Durban Dolphins women’s sides were warming up for a top of the table clash in the Pro20 series). With the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain, a stadium tour or live cricket fixture at this incredible venue is an absolute must-do for any sports tour heading to South Africa.  The rest of the morning focused on inspecting some of the great hotels that we use for our groups staying in Cape Town. Josh and I stayed at Never @ Home in Green Point. A stone’s throw away from the DHL Stadium and a short walk away from V&A Waterfront and the City Bowl, the accommodation is in a fantastic location. A perfect stay for large groups on more of a budget, with spacious dormitory and private rooms, a lovely breakfast and even a small swimming pool for recovery or relaxation. If you are looking for a good hotel in Cape Town, then my pick of the inspection would be StayEasy in the City Bowl.   Some of our previous groups have been lucky enough to experience Gold Restaurant in Cape Town, which Josh and I were able to sample thanks to our hosts’ invitation. A sumptuous 14 course African taster menu, with participation African drumming in between courses: what’s not to like! This would be my final night recommendation for Cape Town to sign your tour off in style’  Day 2 started with a 5am wakeup call for our guided hike to the summit of Lion’s Head. We completed the 5.5km incline to around 700m above sea level, in about 50 minutes, which according to our guide was a ‘good time’. The climb is certainly not for the faint-hearted with some tricky terrain and occasional rock scrambles but the views from the top are well worth the hard work. Incredible 360 views of the City Bowl, Sea Point, Camps Bay and back around to Table Mountain!  Later that morning, we headed to Aquila Game Reserve, 2 hours outside of Cape Town, for an incredible game drive experience. An overnight stay here, is an absolute must-do for any group tour heading to Cape Town. Our groups are allocated into the well-appointed hotel-like rooms in the main building, some of which overlook the stunning pool with swim up bar which is accessible throughout the day.   We were lucky enough to see 4 of the big 5, missing out on the leopards who are almost nocturnal. If staying overnight, groups also do a game drive the following morning where you are more likely to see all the big 5. Finally, the buffet food at Aquila is also incredible!  Our final day in and around Cape Town was spent in Stellenbosch, with the first stop taking us to the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS). A fantastic sporting facility for our groups to base themselves for a couple of nights and make use of the pristine pitches, indoor training centre and recovery pool.   There are also plenty of top sports clubs and schools in the area for a fixtures. The town-centre is a 10-minute walk away, boasting many restaurants and cafés with outdoor terrace seating. If staying in the centre, then The Stellenbosch Hotel with its old Victorian charm is the place to be. As Stellenbosch is part of South Africa’s wine capital, a vineyard visit with a wine tasting is a must do for our adult groups and I would recommend Vredemheim estate or Spier Wine Farm based on our experience.  The day left us with just enough time to make it back to Camps Bay to see sunset from a beach-side restaurant. Again, a must do on any tour to Cape Town and for us, a perfect way to end a magnificent 72 hours in this thrilling and vibrant capital city. 

We held our inaugural Let’s Get Touring: ‘Club Together’ fundraising evening last night at Aberdare RFC.  Hosted by Ross Harries, Head of Events at MSG Tours, our midweek events bring tourists and club members together to chat all things travel, high jinks and rugby touring.  76 players and supporters from ‘The Snakes’ will be embarking on a 12-day tour to Canada in May 2026, commencing in Montreal and taking in Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara Falls.  In 2025/6 we’re moving dozens of teams around the globe that clearly demonstrates an appetite for spreading the rugby gospel to far flung places.   ‘Club Together’ nights are part-funded by MSG, allowing clubs to sell tickets and reduce travel costs. Wales and British and Irish Lion Man of the Series in 2017, Jon ‘Fox’ Davies joined Ross on stage to recall touring tales from his numerous trips around the planet, including a timely recollection of his Wales debut in Canada 🇨🇦   Get in touch to help plan your next touring adventure and fundraising evening. 

Ben and Sam from our business development team recently traded the office for the winter sun of Lisbon and Porto. The inspection trip offered an opportunity to meet our industry partners in person and experience the depth of both cities.    Experiencing our touring centres in person helps our team develop robust and well-matched itineraries relevant to each age category; a skill easily recognised by our clients who return each season in search of exciting touring programmes. The trip started by gathering intelligence for our Portuguese tournament packages at the Universidade De Lisboa. Boasting six football and two rugby pitches, the facilities are perfect to host many teams across weekend events.   A visit to Sporting Lisbon’s stadium club shop followed tour of the Estadio do Benfica, two enriching locations for any touring group. Next on the itinerary was Benfica’s training facility in Seixal. As expected, it is of the highest quality with multiple grass and artificial pitches. This facility is a MUST for any team wanting to experience professional training sessions. When it comes to rugby tours, Lisbon is an understated destination. Both the Grupo Deportivo Direito and Belem Rugby Park have amazing facilities with gyms, artificial and natural turf, padel courts and on-site restaurants. The generous year-round climate and progressive rugby levels mark Portugal as stand out among other coastal European resorts.  Porto was the perfect cherry on top of the Portuguese cake. Despite a very quick visit to Estádio do Dragão and the FC Porto Museum, the facilities are state of the art and are the perfect destinations for a sporting group. Alongside visiting historical landmarks across the city which pay homage to the deep-rooted history of the city and the formation of the nation.  “The takeaway from this inspection trip to Lisbon is that the facilities from the football & rugby pitches to the accommodation have all been of top quality. Any team, club or school coming here will be very impressed.” “To stay beach front, have a pro coaching session at one of Europe’s top teams and play against local teams; what more would you want from a football tour?” – Sam “This inspection visit gave us a great insight into all our Portuguese tours, especially our tournament packages. They are organised in conjunction with our friends at Move Sports and played at top notch facilities.” – Ben “It was great having Sam and Ben visiting our country! They are two sport enthusiasts who have a great passion for sports. Hopefully seeing firsthand the great potential our country has to offer in sport tours will translate in a fruitful relationship.”  – Pedro, Move Sports

As we approach the end of 2024, here’s a spotlight on the MSG team\'s personal travel highlightsHere are some highlights from the team:Mark - The Barista \"My 2024 travel highlight was with my son to watch a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center in Orlando. This once in a lifetime opportunity is an incredible example of STEM learning taken outside the classroom.\"Jen - The Performer \"The best place I visited this year was Costa Rica. It was incredible to try new, adventurous things and spot over 80 different species of animal.\"Rob - The Podcaster \"My favourite destination from this year would be Perpignan, visited as part of an MSG Tours team inspection visit. I especially enjoyed the old town there and visiting the football facilities.\"Josh - The Coach \"My travel highlight of the year would be playing on the 2p machines with my son and spending time on the beach with family in North Devon\"Lucy - The Detective \"An important travel moment for me this year was visiting New York. I went with three generations of my family for my birthday which made it all the more special.\"Ben - The Film Critic \"My favourite destination this year was Iceland, visited as an MSG inspection visit. A personal highlight was seeing the Lava Show as I loved geography in school and it was incredible to further this knowledge on tour.\"Jess - The Bookworm \"My favourite travel memory this year was taking my sister to Paris for her 18th Birthday. My highlights were seeing the Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge and enjoying the cuisine.\"Lauren - The Explorer \"My best visited country this year was Vietnam, which was part of a trip to celebrate the completion of my degree. A highlight from this was kayaking through caves and around the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay.\"Muskan - The Perfectionist \"My trip to Saudi Arabia was such a special and transformative experience. Visiting historical architecture and religious sites brought me closer to my faith and being there with my family made it even more meaningful, and it’s something I’ll always cherish.\"Summer - The Farmer \"My highlight of the year was going to the Amalfi Coast on a boat trip and exploring the town. Another highlight was having dinner looking over the cliff on the Sorrento Coast while watching the sunset.\"Laura - The Mother \"The best trip of my year was visiting Kos, Greece. It was special to me as I visited with my family and we really enjoyed exploring the island and emmersing ourselves in the culture.\"Sam - The Miller \"As a football fan, my travelling highlight this year was visiting Berlin for the Euro Final. It was possibly the only chance I have to watch the England Men\'s football team play in a major sporting final with my dad.\"Elliemae - The Cheerleader \"My favourite place I visited this year was the Peak District. We hiked for hours and I really enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment and seeing the views \"Julia - The Florist \"The most important place I visited this year was Italy. I went to learn about my family history and visit where my Nonna was born and raised.\"

Apprenticeships at MSG Tours As a small business, we believe it is important to give young people the best start possible. A key way to achieve this is through apprenticeships. Primarily, we partner with EMA Training for Marketing and Finance courses. Ben, our current Sales and Marketing Coordinator, completed his Level 3 Content Creator last year and Jess has just recently started her Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship with EMA. Here are their apprenticeship stories. Jess “I have been an apprentice with EMA now for over a year based in their Derby Hub, starting my Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship in June 2023. During my time with EMA, I completed exams for each module and attended portfolio sessions to help me achieve my best possible grade. Overall, I achieved a Distinction in my Level 3 and I’m so grateful for the help and support I received throughout my course. I’ve been on the Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship for a few months and already love the new learning. The in-person sessions allow for a high level of teaching and the opportunity to socialise with other apprentices on the same course, where we all learn from one another. I think Marketing Apprenticeships with EMA are a brilliant alternative to College/University, it allows you to get your qualification whilst working full-time. Gaining confidence and experience from work and the theory and knowledge behind marketing when attending college.” “Apprenticeships are a great way to start your career, or boost your current knowledge, within a chosen industry. Not only this but you develop much more than the knowledge and skills of a subject, you get practical on the job experience, grow your professional network and earn while you learn! Seeing Jess progress from level 3 and now doing her level 4 Marketing Executive apprenticeship is testament to her hard work and commitment but also the opportunities that apprenticeships offer with on-going progression.” – Stuart Reddish, Digital Trainer Mentor, EMA Training Ben “When I finished my A-Levels at school, I was unsure what to do going forward, when someone recommended EMA to me. I didn’t want to go to university, so an apprenticeship was definitely the way for me. I started my Level 3 Junior Content Creator apprenticeship in September 2022 and eventually completed it in April 2024. Since finishing my course, I have stayed on at MSG Tours and have become a Sales and Marketing Coordinator. The Content Creator course that I did was perfect for me as I started with very little knowledge of the industry.  Thanks to the teaching of Stu Reddish and the EMA tutors, I was able to learn everything I needed to and then apply it to my role in everyday life.”Elsewhere in MSG We have expanded our roster of apprentices with Summer and Muskan starting Level 3 Assistant Accountant Apprenticeships with EMA, working to achieve an Advanced Diploma in Accounting. In other departments, we recently hired our first Business Administration apprentice as Elliemae commenced her level 3 course with DBC Apprenticeships. We are excited about the future with EMA and DBC and look forward to continuing these partnerships for many years to come. The door is always open for new talent. Join MSG Tours and turn your passion for travel into an exciting career. Send us your CV to be part of a team that inspires unforgettable adventures!

With an eye towards 2025, we are looking to increase the number of footballing tours. The first stop on this mission was to Lloret de Mar and Barcelona where members of the team experienced the trips that enrich and develop groups’ skills.  Group Travel Coordinator Sam shared his insights after his first inspection visit with MSG:   “From the moment we gathered at the airport, there was a buzz amongst us as we looked towards our first Inspection Visit. Our arrival at Hotel Samba in Lloret de Mar set the tone with an evening buffet and balcony views of the town, even if we were greeted by the Spanish rain.   Lloret de Mar proved to be an excellent destination thanks to its convenience. Everything is within a 20-minute walk with a bowling alley, bars, the beach, and an abundance of sporting facilities on your doorstep.  20 minutes from Lloret, you’ll find Soccerland, a sporting facility comprising of 9 pristine pitches, tucked away behind a vineyard. The pitches are amazing and perfect for any football fanatic, they made me eager to dust off my boots and have a kick around!    Around the Catalonia region, they have three top-flight Spanish teams: Girona FC, RCD Espanyol, and of course FC Barcelona. First for us was Girona FC.  The community-based club was very generous in showing us all corners of the stadium including the pitch side along with talking us through the intriguing history of the Champions League club. This experience was insightful, and we’d love to start offering it to our touring sides.    Next was RCD Espanyol’s training ground. From first team and youth training pitches to the second & Women’s team stadium, multiple weight gyms, and a memorial to the late great Dani Jarque, a high-performance coaching session combined with a stadium tour will have you feeling like a professional player. The women’s second team were training when we arrived, my coaching head instantly took over as I watched on in awe. The others had to drag me away or I would’ve stayed there all night.   La Masia, the training ground of FC Barcelona was on another level! The top-class facility is a must for any sporting tour. Having crossed paths with members of the women’s first team entering for their final training session before taking on Real Madrid the day after, we saw the men’s first team area, the pitches – where visiting groups can even have training sessions and the Johan Cruff stadium where the second team and women play.    20 minutes from Lloret, you’ll find Soccerland, a sporting facility comprising of 9 pristine pitches, tucked away behind a vineyard. The pitches are amazing and perfect for any football fanatic, they made me eager to dust off my boots and have a kick around!    Since returning, my opinion has been cemented that it is the perfect location for social activities and footballing prowess. Barcelona has it all, from cultural sightseeing to the aforementioned sites of RCD Espanyol & Barcelona.    Football tours to this part of Spain are a must! Loret De Mar and Girona, or Barcelona you won’t be disappointed.” 

MSG\'s Jen and Jess Hit the Road Jen is our Operations Team Leader, responsible for creating incredible tours (especially in the USA) and supporting our ever-growing team of tour operators.  Jess is MSG’s Marketing Executive Apprentice, bringing your incredible tours to life through written and social media content, graphic design and email communications. Jess Recently, I had my first on-the-road experience with MSG. Jen and I travelled to South Wales and Bristol to visit our soon-to-be touring schools. With tours ranging from art and economics in New York to basketball in Orlando, these schools were gearing up to learn outside the classroom, improve their sports skills and have once in a lifetime experiences.  Starting at MSG HQ in Derby at 06:00, we travelled to Tredegar Comprehensive School to begin planning their forthcoming return tour to New York City. This was a perfect opportunity to grow our client relationship and to develop their art tour from earlier this year.    After wishing Tredegar well, we headed over the Prince of Wales Bridge, taking photos along the way of the picture-perfect day.   The next school meeting took place at Bristol Metropolitan Academy who were warming up their basketball skills for Orlando, Florida – following their successful trip with MSG in 2023. A tour of this nature helps students gain confidence, create stronger friendships, and extend strong bonds with teaching staff.  We met the teachers and ran through any final questions they had following the recent hurricanes in Florida.   They expressed to us the importance of the trip and what the travel opportunity meant for the students.  Jen and I assured the teachers of our on-tour support and the back-up plans covering their detailed tour program.  The final stop on our trip was Clifton College, preparing for their inaugural MSG tour to New York City in October. The visit allowed us to get a better understanding of the aims of the trip and how the day-by-day content will benefit the students heading into exam periods. The long journey was worth it as it helped both Jen and I enhance our school relationships and gain intelligence in creating the most suited learning outside the classroom experiences.  What the client visit gave me: Allowed me to understand the logistics and planning that goes into an MSG tour, from both the teachers’ side and our operating staff.  .It showed me how much teachers care for their students, want them to have the best experiences and will use their personal time in doing so when going out on tour.   This was my first visit to Wales, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the jokes from the team about me remembering to bring my passport …