This year we took a record 106 tourists to Scotland, made up of P4, P5, P6 and, for the first time, P7. Brian Robertson had, as always, the tour organised superbly.

We set off on Friday 26th April, travelling by boat and ferry to Dalziel, arriving at our hotel mid-afternoon. Everyone had time to settle in before organising dinner or, for some, a trip to the cinema. All were off to bed at a reasonable hour, to be prepared for the tournament on Saturday.

The P4s and P6s headed off the following morning to Dalziel Park and were, as ever, warmly welcomed by our hosts. P5 and P7 played in the afternoon, with a large number of the P4 and P6 parents staying to support the players in the later games (many adding their support from the bar).

We were all fed and watered very well by our hosts in their clubhouse, where some had to take shelter from a heavy hail and rain shower in the morning. Thankfully the weather improved later in the day.

All teams had to adapt to the differing rules in force in Scotland, and all did so extremely well. After a number of well-played competitive matches, the P4s, P5s and P7s all finished 2nd in their respective groups. P6s won every game, conceding only 1 try in the whole tournament, winning their section for the third time in a row.

All players, at every year group, forged new and stronger bonds with their teammates and all played rugby in a competitive and sporting manner, bringing praise from our hosts and pride from parents and coaches.

After dinner in various restaurants in Hamilton (including the ever-popular all-you-can-eat Chinese), players and parents headed off for well-earned restful nights.

On Sunday, after the usual hotel breakfast, we headed home with our normal stop in Girvan for fish and chips and the parents v kids touch rugby game in the park.

Another superb and successful trip and a great way for the P7 boys to finish their playing time at Civil Service.