How landmark European rugby league tour can unleash the Kirwan Bears’ best
The Kirwan Bears will write a new chapter in the school’s rugby league history this week when they embark on a first-of-its-kind tour of Europe. Find out what the boys can expect while abroad.
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The Kirwan Bears will write a new chapter in the school’s rugby league history this week when they embark on a first-of-its-kind tour of Europe.
The Bears will play matches against the Warrington Wolves Academy and ‘Les Bleuets’ – the French under-19s team – as well as soaking up cultural experiences in Singapore, England, Wales, France and Spain.
Kirwan’s director of rugby league David Faiumu finished his playing career in England, playing 162 games for Huddersfield after five NRL season with the Cowboys, and he masterminded the trip with assistant coach Aaron Halliday.
Last year the Bears toured New Zealand, and they toured Fiji in 2023, but this will be the team’s first foray into the northern hemisphere.
Faiumu said the Bears would be exposed to a different style of rugby league in the European summer.
“I’ve been lucky enough to coach over there in the junior and the academy age groups when I finished up playing,” Faiumu said.
“They play quite a tough style of football. They’re just in your face constantly. It’s a physical game over there in juniors as well, but equally quite skilful in their own right.
“So it should make for a good game. They’re leading the academy competition over there at the moment, the Warrington Wolves, so it should be a tough battle.”
The Bears’ 15-day itinerary includes attending a Super League match between St Helen’s and Salford, visits to Paris Disneyland, Cardiff Castle, London’s Tower Bridge, the Louvre, Perpignan and Barcelona.
Faiumu said it would be an opportunity to can galvanise the group and bring them together.
“We’ll get to learn about each other on the tour, learn about each other on a personal level and on the football level as well,” he said.
“So it certainly will help our team camaraderie and our habits, and how we want to play and act.
“But it’s just as much about the experience as it is for the actual games. The history of England and France and Wales, and we get to go to Spain as well and Singapore.
“A lot of these boys have never been, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to do it. There’s been a lot of hard work in getting us over there, so it’s a good reward for those boys and their families.
“Football-wise, we want them to lock into everything we’re doing and play some strong, competitive football our way: our North Queensland, Kirwan State High School brand of football and show the world what we’ve got.”
Kirwan SHS will be posting regular social media updates of the tour online.
Originally published as How landmark European rugby league tour can unleash the Kirwan Bears’ best
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