In between certain parts are a lack of sleep and alcohol induced blur.

The highlight of the first day for the four girls on tour was our being met by the Vice Chairman of Gibraltar RFC, the smooth, sophisticated, handsome, rich, Mr. James Russo. Thanks James!

The first night was an epic. The Seawave, a seafront bar next to the hotel fronting onto a raging sea was the host to 42 thirsty Wanderers. The food was raciones – a large tapas style meal and the beer, draught Bass or St. Miguel at £2.50 a pint. There were a lot of spinning heads making their way to bed very late.

Friday – match day – a quiet day perhaps? In theory this sounded quite good but with an evening kick off we had to be careful. Testing questions like – “how many pints am I allowed before I would be stopped from playing?” Anyway, we managed – a few drinks, meals, sunbathing and away we went to play Gibraltar RFC at Guadiaro ten miles into Spain.

Crossing the frontier was an experience. Everyone off the coach, walk across the border carrying all the kit and then get back on if you can find the coach – “be sensible, the Spanish guards are sensitive”. Surprise surprise we did make it and away to the match.

An eight o’clock kick off made sense because of the heat. The pitch was well watered and away we went only to find that the Gibraltarians knew what they were about. Half time 12-10 down. The second half with all alcohol sweated out of the system, our fitness did tell and we ran out 36-17 winners. Gibraltar were a decent side with some smokey backs and had to be treated with respect.

What next? Well the presentation of course, a trip back to Gibraltar and then yet more alcohol in the Sportsman Bar amid the classy new quayside and apartments of Gib. “No major drinking mind we’ve got an early start in the morning”.

What a hope! The guys drifted home at between 3 and 5 in the morning and we had to be away by 8.30 a.m. Surprisingly we were but google route finding in Spain does not work if you miss signposts and street names – note to all Gibraltarian coach drivers ‘take a map’. Anyway at 11 a.m. we did arrive at Puerto de Santa Maria, near Cadiz where our hosts Portuense Rugby Club were hosting the El Puerto Sevens.

Our ‘A; team the Wanderers were on within a quarter of an hour of our arrival and it showed. Our ‘B’ team the Wolfhounds were on next and peaked very early. With nine forwards in a squad of ten we were not built for speed but boy could we rolling maul. Surprise surprise we beat The Ghosts scoring four tries in the process.

Throughout the long hot (32°) day the boys performed, the Wanderers winning two games on the way and the Wolfhounds declaring after their initial success.

The final game was the Plate final, Worcester Wanderers v Portuense and after a slow start and much to the chagrin of home supporters the now sobered up and sprightly Wanderers won, once again scoring four tries.

The match finished at 6 p.m. and then all we had to do was kill two and half hours by walking in the still hot sun a mile back to the home clubhouse, a former Bodega. Two bars later the gay rugby tourists of Worcester skipped their way hand in hand through the streets of Puerto to the Bodega. After free beer, sumo wrestling, boat racing and singing for the next three hours we finally found our coach and were home by three o’clock in the morning. A long, expensive but fantastic day.

The rugby element of the tour was now finished – the boys could enjoy themselves free of the fear of having to don their rugby kit. The next three days may be summed up by the following sequence, sunbathing – alcohol – food – song – dance oh and yes sight seeing.

We left our superb Caleta Hotel. The tour was now over. The lads magnificent. Their last question – where are we going next year? Ah yes – join Worcester Wanderers and see the world – Cyprus – Gibraltar – now where?

Our thanks to: Mr. James Russo and Gibraltar RFC
Mr. Justin Roberts and Atletico Portuense RC
The Caleta Hotel
The Seawave Bar
The citizens, bars and restaurants of Gibraltar

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