Cardiff Blues North Under-16s recently returned from a challenging but hugely beneficial tour to Tbilisi in Georgia.
The youngsters lost all three encounters against the Georgian National Academy but gave an impressive account of themselves against a physical opposition, who train full-time.
Blues North spent more than a week in the Caucasus country and were exposed to a full-time regime, giving an invaluable insight to life as a professional player, while also enjoying a new and very different culture.
Leigh Medlicott, Blues North Under-16s head coach, said: “It was a great trip and a real eye-opener for the boys. We expected the Georgian team to be physical, which they were, but their skill-set was really impressive.
“These boys train full-time and typically big, physical specimens, but it was a brilliant challenge for our boys and they did really well.
“It gave them an invaluable experience both on and off the pitch which will undoubtedly be of huge benefit to them in the future.
“Ethan Fackrell, Dylan James, Corben Evans, Alex Mann, Kelly Jones were particularly impressive but all of the boys gave a good account of themselves.”
“A special thanks must go to the Georgian RFU who fed and housed us at an exceptional facility and are very keen to develop further links with the Blues.”
Georgian national academy 30 Cardiff Blues North U16s 18
Georgian national academy 35 Cardiff Blues North U16s 17
Georgia 30 Cardiff Blues North U16s 7