World Footy News

The tour of South Africa by the School Sport Australia Under 15's squad has come to an end with a domination across three games against the South African Lions. But the scores are secondary to the developmental value of the tour as the players shred their skills with their South African counterparts as well as giving assistance and advice to young kids at clinics across the country.

The team won their first match of the series, played in Johannesburg, downing the South African Lions 20 11 131 to 5 4 34. The report of that part of the itinerary can be found here: Sawubona! – South Africa Welcomes School Sport Australia

The second game of the series was played at Rustenburg, to the west of Pretoria. Once again the schoolboys team was too strong, though the South Africans certainly learned from the opening game, closing the gap and going down by just 55 points. The final score in Game 2: School Sport Australia 16 18 114 d South African Lions 9 5 59.

In the final official match of the tour saw the School Sport Australia team return again to dominance with a comprehensive performance, downing the Lions this time 17 20 122 to 4 4 28.

Whilst the team were too good across the three scheduled matches, it might be their last "unofficial" match that lasts longest in their minds. On their Cape Town part of the itinerary, the school boys visited the Drakenstein Prison where they listened to the testimonies off 20 young soccer players in the 18-25 Juvenile medium security prison. After this the team played a game of soccer with the young men of the prison.

Without doubt these young players have had their eyes opened on many fronts to life in other parts of the world as well as getting to represent their country. They have also contributed enormously to the game in South Africa - something they may never forget.