A team from the independent coeducational school played an under-17 side from the landlocked kingdom on a dirt pitch with makeshift posts. The Swaziland international was one of the first events of its kind to be organised by SKRUM, an African charity that uses rugby to help educate children about AIDS. It provided a stark contrast to the rest of the 15-day tour, which began with training at the plush Ingwenyama Sports Resort. The three-day stay prepared the boys for matches against top rugby-playing schools Penryn College and Nelspruit High School in Johannesburg and Porterville School near Cape Town.
The boys also enjoyed excursions to Kruger National Park, Langa Township in Cape Town and Robben Island. Solihull’s female hockey and netball players also had the opportunity to visit Langa and played a hockey match against a community side on their own 12-night tour to South Africa.
