Our Rugby Coach, Kieran Lacey, spent time in Poland recently to take part in the first ever Great Britain teachers tour. Kieran, who is heavily involved in St Helens’ Portico Vine Rugby Club, made the team as Hooker in a side that beat the Polish Select XIII 74-6 in Skierniewic and the national team 88-0 in Lodz.

But the tour was not about results. The pioneers were there to help to spread the 13-man game in another fledgling nation. Although the Polish game is limited in finance, Kieran said there was warmth in their hospitality during their stay in Lodz. To repay this the squad members each took a token gift from their clubs, so somewhere in Poland there is now a novice rugby league player running around wearing a Portico Vine training top! Elsewhere there will be others sporting Saints, Thatto Heath and Clock Face jerseys!