Brown Spring Tour a Success with Two Wins

Brown won both if its matches in Ireland, defeating two Connacht Development teams in Galway and Athlone, 25-19 and 25-17 respectively. The entire tour from March 22 to 29 was spent in the Galway. Brown had the extraordinary benefit of a week of coaching from former Ireland and US Rugby coach Eddie O’Sullivan. Eddie is a great friend of Brown Rugby and his help was instrumental in Brown’s preparation and success.

For all of our Brown Rugby Alumni who have had a rugby tour to Ireland, Scotland, England or Wales, you know the weather can be ever changeable and, more often than not, windy and very wet. The mild March weather in the Northeast took over the west of Ireland for our entire week, providing dry, windless and sunny weather every day. What a pleasant surprise!

The team’s lodging, bus, sightseeing to the Cliffs of Moher and matches were ably arranged through Irish Rugby Tours which is run by George Hook Jr., son of the George Hook who also coached Brown Rugby in the late 1980’s and 1990’s.  Nigel Carolan who gave Brown a coaching session on our last trip to Ireland in 2006, and Charlie Cooper who is with the Buccaneers in Athlone and was our host when we visited in 1995, are both involved with the current Connacht Development squads. Nigel was able to provide our tour party with tickets for a very competitive and entertaining Connacht v. Munster Provincial match on Saturday night, March 24th.

Brown Men (41) at Connacht Development (Galway) (19) »
Brown Men (25) at Connacht Development (Athlone) (17) »

This tour which provided such a terrific personal experience for each player is only possible because of the generosity of so many of our alumni, parents and friends.

Thank you.