Boston and Portland Tour

2023 Senior Tour

The Senior Team have just returned home from their tour to Boston and Portland. With the start of a new season in Kukri Junior 1 just about to begin the team have spent 10 days in America playing two brilliant American sides and team building along the way!

Boston

In Boston the lads took on the Boston Irish Wolfhounds in a demanding and physical match. With extremely warm temperatures and a physical American side the game was far from easy.

Coming together to play some brilliant set pieces and lively running rugby the lads got on top of their American counterparts winning 47 – 21

The lads also trained against the Boston side, a massive thanks goes to the Boston lads and staff

More images from the Game and Training can be downloaded using the link –

https://mptprints.pixieset.com/irishwolfhoundsrugby2023/

Off the pitch in Boston

Off the pitch the lads had a brilliant 5 days sightseeing around Boston. Seeing Harvard, and spending a evening watching the Boston Redsocks.

Portland, Maine

After spending 5 brilliant days in Boston the lads travelled 2 hours north to Portland Maine. This section of the tour is what the lads where looking forward too. Portadown and Portland RFCs relationship extends back many years, read about the 2 clubs relationship below.

After stopping off at the beach and the American outlets the lads made their way further north or Portland. Here the lads would be hosted by their American friends, spending the next 5 days living with them. This alone is a brilliant experience and what many say tour is all about!

Before the Willie Gribben Memorial Cup game on the Saturday the Portland team and staff where very keen to show the lads the very best of what Portland had to offer. Taking the lads around Portland, Becky’s Diner, Gritty McDuffs and a brilliant day trip to Long Island.

Willie Gribben Memorial Cup

On Saturday the Senior Team took on Portland in the Willie Gribben Memorial Cup. The late Willie Gibbens legacy with Portland extends back many years when he helped set up and coach Portland RFC. For the Portadown lads this was the pinnacle of the Tour.

A very special match for all, everyone in the team at some point in their young rugby careers where impacted by the late Willie Gribben. For Willies Son Barry (Coach) and grandsons, Drew, Brandon, Toby and son in law Ian it was a very special occasion.

The Ports took on a very strong Portland side, once again in very warm and challenging conditions. Showing real team spirit and coming through to win 31-14

History of the PRFC Tour

Portadown RFC has a long history of touring France, America and Canada and when the IRFU sent Willie Gribben to Portland Maine to coach and help set up their structures in the 70s a bond was established. Over the years Portland have been to Portadown on three occasions since and this summer we are delighted to be finally making the trip back, to be playing for the Gribben Cup.  The Senior Mens 1st XV are Touring New England from the 5th-14th August and will be playing Boston Irish Wolfhounds and Portland Maine. The tour is designed is designed to be incorporated in pre-season planning for the clubs return to Kukri Qualifying 1.

In the lead up to preparing for tour we have the delight of hosting two American at the club in the coming weeks.

Firstly is Yale University 1st XV from Connecticut, this Ivy League side are touring over  St Patricks fortnight and we are delighted to host them on the 21st March at 1930. It’s not every Tuesday night at Chambers Park that we are hosting one of the biggest US Universities so feel free to come down. Secondly is Eastside Bannshees 1st XV from Minnesota on Friday 31st March at 1930. This sides coach had the good fortune of being at college with Rab Reid and Andrew Chambers and they are delighted to be hosting their old housemates team and his touring party of 75 and should be another great night.

Tour Sponsors

Big thanks also go to our Tour Sponsors

  • Rainey and Best
  • RJ Woolsey Concrete
  • Shelbourne Motors
  • Sensoteq
  • Mortgage Advice Bureau
  • Boyce Facilities Services

Thanks for all your support

Portadown New England Tour Committee