2013 Touring Party: L-R (back row); Hamish Finch, Pat Beck, Phil Parsons, Glen Pritchard, Toby Paten, Scott Hardiman, Ryan Trbojevich. L-R (front row); T Stanley, Scott Kiely, Bruce Dando, Phil Cook, Ben Bryant, James Casey, Jack Basham (Absent; Ben Adams, Edward Doyle, Dave Feltscheer, Ben Field, Josh Gerrard, Tom Sheridan, Jack Tompkins).

by Paul Cook –

Two years ago, Warringah rugby club embarked on their first humanitarian rugby tour, to the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. The trip was such a success that the club decided to make it a rule rather than an exception and following a smaller scale trip to Fiji last year, they’re going full board again in 2013 to help improve people’s lives while spreading the word about the game they play in heaven. Leaving this week, their destination this time is Cuba and if it proves to be anything like the African experience of 2011, it will be something that those involved will remember for a very long time.

“It was a truly life changing experience” says Rats 1st grader Dave Feltscheer. “I know every single person who went on that trip came back changed in some way and definitely had a different view on the world. We still have that bond today and when you look at each other sometimes, you have a bit of a knowing smile and a laugh about that trip and know that you did something that was really worthwhile and helped a community that was worse off than any of us.”

Based in the capital Nairobi, the Rats played two games of quality footy, conducted rugby clinics with the local community and handed out balls and boots to hundreds of grateful kids. They also spent time in Kibera, sub-Saharan Africa’s largest urban slum with approximately one million people crammed into an area roughly 2.5km sq. 40% of the residents are children under 15yrs old and one in five of those is infected with HIV. Raw sewage runs through the streets and gangs run rife down the narrow walkways that connect the maze of inequity and even though they were there to assist at the Oasis Africa school, the players needed an armed guard every time they visited in order to safeguard their passage. To say it was an eye opener for the young touring party would be one heck of an understatement.

The trip to Kibera in 2011 was a challenging but rewarding experience for Ed Doyle (L) and Dave Feltscheer (R)

“Everything that happened on that trip still resonates with me now,” recalls club captain Ed Doyle. “It was such a fantastic experience and you do realise how lucky we have it here in Australia and now, when something goes wrong, it doesn’t compare to one single day in the life of those children. Also, doing it with rugby puts the game itself into perspective. It is just a game so, when you lose, don’t beat yourself up about it because things could be a lot worse.”

The legacy of the trip is palpable. The Rats helped to build a permanent access bridge into the slum, built and stocked a new school library, taught classes and assisted the daily feeding program. Players and their families and friends continue to personally sponsor the education and welfare of eighteen Kibera orphans.

The idea to do something other than the traditional rugby tour was the foresight of club president Mike Sheeran and vice-President Phil Parsons. They wanted to combine the opportunity to play rugby overseas and take the game to a relative backwater of the sport, while also making a difference to the lives of people in a less fortunate position. With Hurricane Sandy having recently ripped through the island of Cuba and destroyed over 200,000 homes in its path, a new set of challenges await the tourists this time round.

Working in tandem with the charity Oxfam, the Rats have been asked to assist in any way they can with the task of rebuilding and repairing essential infrastructure to help provide shelter to those left homeless. The itinerary also includes a Rugby Clinic for underprivileged children; a visit to a local community training centre and community facility to see first hand some of Oxfam’s community projects and a visit to two local orphanages in Havana where the Rats will donate items such as much needed spices, clothing, sports equipment, books and stationery and spend time with teachers and children, teaching classes. They will also be making much needed repairs to the playground at one of the orphanages.

All this will be played out in a country that remains one of the few communist regimes in the world but one that could be on the brink of change as well. It is truly a trip into the unknown.

“I don’t really know what to expect,” says Doyle. “There is poverty there and it is a third world country so to speak but it’s a different sort of poverty as a result of the trade embargoes. I’m not expecting to be so confronted as I was by Kibera but then again, I don’t know and that’s the exciting part as well.”

After what he saw in Africa, Feltscheer isn’t too concerned. “We survived the gang infested slums of Nairobi without any major hiccups so I don’t think Cuba will be too bad! All I’ve heard is that it is really safe at the moment. It’s a pretty unique little country that seems to be stuck in time but with very happy people. I’m really looking forward to seeing that completely different culture and especially keen to experience it.”

Left: Rats players undertook various fundraising schemes around the local Northern beaches area to help finance the trip. Right: Ryan Trbojevich, Toby Paten and James Casey don their custom made tour jerseys

Rugby wise, they will play two games, firstly against the Havana championship side on Australia Day and then the Cuban national team on February 2nd, a match that may even be attended by the Castro family. (Apparently, Fidel Castro played second row during his University days and was a massive fan of the game.) Having lost both fixtures in Kenya, Doyle and co. are keen to do better this time around.

“When I think about the trip, I’m not thinking about the rugby, I’m thinking about everything else,” says the skipper “but certainly, when we get over there and get out on the field everyone wants to win and do well. It’s a good way to play footy when there’s no expectations on you, it’s something quite different to playing Shute Shield week in, week out so it’s a lot of fun.”

With a salsa dancing competition to look forward to as well, the boys are certainly going to be in for a busy ten days. Find out how they got on at www.rugbynews.net.au when they return.

THE SQUAD: Ben Adams (1st grade), Jack Basham (4th grade), Pat Beck (3rd/4th grade), Ben Bryant (3rd grade), James Casey (1st grade), Phil Cook (2nd grade), Bruce Dando (2nd grade), Edward Doyle (Club Capt, 1st grade), David Feltscheer (Co Capt, 1st grade), Ben Field (4th grade), Hamish Finch (4th grade), Josh Gerrard (3rd grade), Scott Hardiman (1st/2nd grade in 2011 – injured 2012 season), Scott Kiely (3rd grade), Toby Paten (3rd/4th grade), Glenn Pritchard (1st grade), Tom Sheridan (3rd grade), Tristan Stanley (former 1st grade – currently residing in WA), Jack Tomkins (1st grade), Ryan Trbojevich (3rd grade – also team logistics and liaison with Cuban rugby)

STAFF: Phillip Parsons (Tour Manager & Logistics), Karen Watson (Marketing/Media/Charity Liaison/Photography)

For more info, listen to: ABC Grandstand Cuba Pre-Tour Interview – Nov 2012 with Ryan Trbojevich & Edward Doyle  (Host: Patrick Foulkes)  http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2012/11/the-clubhouse–1.html