The U13 tournament will be held in October 2008 and called the Tullow Oil Cup. The plans are progressing well with the group leaders abroad organising coaching, passports and the backgrounds to their respective teams. The host schools are also excited at the prospects of receiving their guests and have made plans that include Mufti days, pendant art, DT, Music, IT and assemblies on the country from where their touring boys hail.

Ten countries have so far been identified by touraid as potential tourists including:

Ghana
Union member of the IRB. Al Jazeera has already made a news piece on the team and will be following the Ghanaians during their stay. The children are being selected via the Ghana RFU community officer and the President of the GRU.
Host School - Danes Hill, Oxshott, is one of the largest Co-educational Prep schools in the UK. (Aged 3-13yrs)
Sponsor - To be sourced

Namibia
Rugby well established. 20 registered clubs and more than 10,000
registered teen and pre teen players. Team is being sourced via the Namibian RFU.
Host School - Hinchley Wood. A Foundation Co-educational Comprehensive School for Students Aged 11-18.
Sponsor - To be sourced

Uganda
A rural school is being chosen via Tullow Oil’s country manager in
conjunction with the Ugandan RFU.
Host School- Milbourne Lodge, Claygate, is an independent day preparatory school for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 13.
Sponsor - To be sourced

Cote d’Ivoire
IRB contacts are helping to identify the right team to compete.
Host School- To be sourced
Sponsor - To be sourced

India
The IRU and our representative in Asia are choosing a group who will perform similarly to the ‘The Jungle Crows’ – winners of the 2007 touraid Cup.
Host School- Lanesborough is a long-established independent preparatory school situated in a quiet residential area of Guildford, catering for boys from 3-13.
Sponsor - To be sourced

Madagascar
Rugby is increasingly popular and played in many very deprived areas. The IRB has helped to identify a team.
Host School- Heathside, Weybridge, which is now well established as a Foundation Community Technology College in affiliation with the Diocese of Guildford.
Sponsor - To be sourced

South Africa
Nkukime and Bapo Primary Schools from Rustenburg region of South Africa. Charity SKRUM has helped source the team who have never played rugby before.
Host School- Esher High School for the Performing Arts providing a vibrant, innovative, broad and balanced curriculum for 960 students aged 11 – 16.
Sponsor- LONMIN

Tanzania
Mkombozi Centre for street children.
Host School - Rokeby Prep School near Kingston-upon-Thames is an Independent day school for boys aged 4- 13.
Sponsor - To be sourced

Trinidad & Tobago
Rainbows Sport and Community Club. Rugby is increasingly popular on the islands. Danny Cipriani has assisted in sourcing the team along with the rugby Union
Host School - Ripley Court, Ripley, Surrey, benefits as being a small Co-educational prep school, with a strong disciplinary and pastoral framework for 3-13 year olds
Sponsor - To be sourced

Pakistan
Rugby increasing in popularity and the PRU are helping to identify the team.
Host School- Hawthorns Prep School is a thriving co-educational school for children aged 2-13. Located in Bletchingley, in the heart of Surrey.
Sponsor – To be sourced

The team from South Africa has been sourced with the help of the Charity SKRUM. Michael Collinson, the founder recently visited the children from Neighbouring primary schools in Mooinooi to show them the sport for the very first time and get them into training in preparation for the tour to the UK in October. Lonmin, the allocated sponsor of the South African team from Rutenberg were on hand with the camera to capture the delight of the children at their first training session.

Tullow Oil plc have kindly agreed to be the principle sponsor of the tournament. Tullow Oil is one of the largest independent oil and gas exploration companies in Europe. The Group has with operations in Africa, Europe, South Asia and South America with headquarters in London and employs over 350 people world-wide. Current production is over 75,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). In 2007 the Group drilled over 100 exploration, appraisal and development wells, which included multi-well campaigns in Ghana and Uganda.

So far touraid has sourced four of the ten team sponsors. If you know of an organisation to join Tullow Oil, Colonnade, Lonmin and Ashurst please contact Andy Berry at the touraid office: 01932 863388 or info@touraid.org.   

Why Sponsor a touraid Team?

As an exclusive team sponsor…
• Your company logo will be prominently displayed on the front of your team’s shirt.
• Recognition will be given to your company’s support on the touraid website and in the tournament programme.
• Your company will receive great media exposure in the UK and the country of origin.
• Your company will gain access to our marketing material including photos of your team bearing your logo.
• You can host your team for the day and give your employees the chance to meet the boys and their coaches.
• There will be pitch branding opportunities.