A GROUP of players from Dorothy Stringer School have spent the last two years preparing for a challenge of a lifetime – a rugby tour of South Africa.

In 2013 24 talented rugby players were offered the opportunity to tour South Africa and a plan was put in place to prepare the squad for the trip this Easter.

The preparations continue tomorrow with a crunch cup semi-final against Hurstpierpoint College. They had to commit to three training sessions a week – two technical sessions and one strength and conditioning session – as well as maintaining their studies.

Since the start of the process all players have made a significant improvement in their playing ability and have gelled as a team. This was highlighted by winning the Sussex Cup last season, beating some very strong private schools on the road to the final. The boys were also highly commended in the Team of the Year category at the City Sports Awards.

The preparation for the tour culminated in an amazing performance and 10-5 win against one of the leading rugby schools in England – John Fisher in Surrey. Due to the cost of travelling to South Africa, there has been a monumental effort by all involved in raising funds for the tour. There have been three sponsored events, a cycle ride where the squad cycled the equivalent distance from the most northern to the most southern point of South Africa, a race night and a gala dinner. Supplementing these events has been the support from Big Yellow Self Storage who are the lead sponsors of the tour and have been instrumental in helping the squad.

Head coach Grant Lawrence said: “The boys need to be commended for the amount of effort they have put into becoming the best that they can be. “It has taken numerous hours of blood, sweat and tears to get to the point we are currently at. “We have had plenty of ups and downs along the way and it has been an absolute pleasure riding this roller coaster with them all. “I am very excited by the next step in our journey, which promises to be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

While in South Africa the squad will have an action packed time. On top of the three scheduled games, there will be trips to Kings Park, home of the Natal Sharks, to take in their game against the Crusaders, two live training sessions with the Sharks Academy, an Ushaka Marine World visit, a game drive in Hluhluwe National Park, a visit to Kosi Bay and a St Lucia wildlife boat trip.

Pictured: Back row left to right, Josh Esnouf, James Anstiss, Francis Barker, Louis Burdick, Ollie Priddle, Will Everett, Louis Glass, Nick Whitley-Jones, Rafe Brooks, Oliver Higgins, Danny Jones, Frank Shepherd. Front row left to right, Harry Bailey, Harry Laurens, Scott Johnson-Corney, James Bourton, Josh Jones, Kieran Mulligan (captain), Max May (vice-captain), Joey Crouch, Ben Holden, Morgan Davies, Joe Hayward.