A TEAM of Tetbury under 11s junior rugby players travelled to Toulouse in France to play a series of matches with local youth teams.

The children were able to go on the tour after £9,000 was raised by the team, including pupils from primary schools in the area.

The tour began with the team being kindly hosted at the countryside Chateau de Sauveterre to play the local town team of Lombez after which they headed for the city centre to play inner-city teams including Montaudran and Grenade sport.

While in Toulouse, the Tetbury RFC Under 11s junior team also enjoyed an invite to be the official Mascots for the English team Oldham RFC who were in town to play a league match against Toulouse.

Accompanying the Tetbury U11 team was Oliver Ridgewell who, despite breaking his leg only a day before the tour began, insisted on travelling to support his team mates.

His courage earned Oliver the privilege of being first out on the pitch with the Oldham mascots and winner of the 'man of the match' for the overall series of rugby matches the boys played over the four days.

The U11 boys each travelled with one of their parents and were very warmly hosted by French families at the local clubs.

For Mike O'Callaghan, travelling with his son Kyle from St Mary's Primary School in Tetbury, it was their first time out of the UK and he remarked how grateful he was for the generous hospitality of the French clubs.

An additional educational aspect was added to the tour thanks to the support of the Tetbury Lions and Feoffees of Tetbury. The children saw the making of Airbus planes at Toulouse Aiport and visited the largest space centre in Europe at Cite de l'espace.