A tour Empire will never forget 💜

Apr 2
2 min read

On the final weekend of March, Empire Rugby Academy embarked on its first ever international tour, competing at the Portugal Rugby Youth Festival, an incredibly competitive 15s tournament featuring teams from across the world.

We travelled with 39 Empire players, forming two squads (U15s and U18s), and were also joined by four invitational players from Loughborough College. The U15s were captained by Neve Lamont and the U18s by Chloe Corby.

In the lead-up to the tour, uncertainty in the UAE meant we weren’t even sure the trip would go ahead. With changes to school holidays, flight cancellations, flooding, and wider disruption, it was an incredibly challenging period. However, the determination and resilience shown by players, parents and coaches was outstanding, and together we ensured we made it to Portugal.

Arriving in Lisbon felt like a huge achievement in itself. On Friday, we spent time team bonding around the city before coming together for a team meal. That evening, we held a special shirt presentation where each player received their jersey. It was a proud and emotional moment, shared with parents in Lisbon and those joining via Zoom from home.

Day 1 – Pool Stages

The tournament atmosphere on Saturday morning was electric.

The U15s opened strongly with a 19–0 win over Dumfries Saints. They then faced a tough challenge against Kilkenny, narrowly losing 12–7, before finishing the day in style with a dominant 31–0 win over Centro.

The U18s faced a highly competitive pool. They narrowly lost their opener to Truro College 10–7 in a fantastic contest, followed by a tough match against Doylestown Rugby Academy (USA), losing 19–5. However, they bounced back brilliantly with a commanding 50–0 win over Centro.

Day 2 – Finals Day

With tired bodies but high spirits, both teams returned ready for finals day. The U15s remained in Cup contention. They defeated Dunbar Dragons 24–0, then secured their place in the Cup Final with a 29–5 win over Sullis/Lisboa. The final, played on the main pitch, was a standout moment. Facing Kilkenny once again, the girls delivered an outstanding performance. With relentless defence and tries from Grace Gordon and Hattie Bennett, they secured a thrilling 14–12 victory to become Cup Champions.

The U18s entered the Trophy play-offs and started strongly with a 31–0 win over Dumfries Saints, taking them straight into the final. Facing Thunder, the girls delivered a brilliant performance to win 29–12 and secure the Trophy over the furocious Canadian side.

Individual & Team Recognition

In addition to the team success, Empire was awarded Fair Play Team of the Tournament, a testament to the squad’s attitude, energy, and sportsmanship throughout.

Hayden Gibbs was also named U15 Player of the Tournament for her outstanding performances across the weekend.

One weekend. Four trophies.