Well done to our Youth section for their great evening in Ballycorus on Thursday when Canadian Rugby Club, Strathcona Druids, Edmonton arrived to play an Old Wesley U15 and U17 selection with less than 24 hours notice.

With the usual calm Jenny Bailey, one of the Club’s Mini and Youth Co-ordinators, had organised two teams to host our visitors, who arrived in Dublin yesterday on the start of their 10 day tour of Ireland only to discover that no opposition was in place on their Dublin Leg of the Tour.  After some frantic phone calls to players, parents and school teachers alike the club rallied together and Old Wesley were able to have nearly 50 players from U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18 all togged out and ready to welcome 45 tourists and their families as they arrived en masse to Ballycorus to face Canadian like weather conditions.

Wesley won both games with ease with some high tempo rugby being played in both games.  It was a great evening and a tribute to our Club who, with little or no preparation, were able to put all of this together and showcase our hospitality, which really is down to the military style organisation of Jenny and her team. There was hot food and drinks for all the players and supporters after the game.  The one ironic note was that the Canadian team supporters were all hoping to spend their holiday Euros in the bar but did not expect to see an Irish Rugby Club without pints at the ready. Thankfully it didn’t dampen their support for their boys as they all stood on the touchlines to cheer on their teams.

After the food there was a presentation from both clubs with Nigel Dunne ( Coach of the U15 selection) speaking on behalf of Old Wesley.

Pictured in the Photo is Nigel Dunne, Zane McClatchie Obima ( Capt of OW U15s) and Ian Bailey ( Capt of OW U17s)  together with the Head Coach of Druids Rugby and their 2 captains presenting the Club with a Plaque and gifts for the two captains.

Current Old Wesley Senior Squad players Cal Lynn and David Brownlow both played for Stratcona Druids when they lived in Canada.