When you are a teacher or coach, it is often hard to organise tours and study trips that will teach your young students new facts about the history of any given sport. Therefore, it is always good when a clear-cut destination for such an endeavour comes along. And this year, teachers organising school rugby tours will undoubtedly want to look towards Japan, specifically Fukuoka, where the 2012 Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival is being hosted.
Set to be held between October 28 and November 4, the 2012 edition of this event has the particularity of being a landmark not only for the rugby world, but also for Japan, which is hosting an event such as this for the very first time. The touristy appeal of the country, in conjunction with the relevance of the festival itself, is therefore likely to make Fukuoka the destination for many school rugby tours this autumn.
It is also worth mentioning that the choice of this city as the host for the festival was far from arbitrary. Fukuoka is considered the sporting capital of Japan, and has a long, well-documented tradition in rugby. Most notably, it spawned the highest number of national team representatives for this sport out of any Japanese city! No less than two Top League teams are also based on this city, making it an even more attractive candidate for school rugby tours.
The festival itself will feature three days of games, interspersed with "free days" dedicated to picnics, exploration of Fukuoka, and of course the opening and closing ceremonies - the latter of which includes an award ceremony sponsored by NZ Airlines. The numerous teams already signed up for the event include representatives from Australia (the best-represented country), New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Cook Islands, Ireland, Russia, the United States, and of course Japan. With so many professionals in action, there will no doubt be ample opportunities for students on school rugby tours to appreciate and absorb the finer points of the sport. And, on the two 'off days', they can enjoy a picnic or do a little sightseeing in the attractive Japanese city, helping round out a package that perfectly combines the educational and touristy aspects inherent to school trips.
The reasons detailed above, coupled with the fact that Japan is a somewhat unusual destination for this type of trip, contribute to make Fukuoka, and the 2012 World Rugby Festival, an attractive proposition for those looking for new places to visit on their school rugby tours.
Aiden Armstrong works for Pavilion Tours, a specialist travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school rugby tours as well as adventure, performing arts and geography. Pavilion Tours offer both local and international tours covering a variety of programmes.
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