YOUNG rugby players rounded off a successful season with an action-packed tour of Ireland.

Fifty-one members of Barnard Castle Rugby Club’s Under 14s headed to County Kildare for the tour last month.

As well as enjoying a training session at the Philippe Saint-Andre Academy, the team visited the famous Irish National Stud, home to some of the most magnificent horses and gardens in the world.

They also triumphed at a match against an Irish team from Newbridge, demonstrating a winning combination of speed, power and skills.

The Tour was jam-packed and the team even managed to fit in a crash course in Gaelic Football with their hosts, Naas Rugby Club.

Barnard Castle Rugby Club Under 14s won all but one of their matches last season.

Coach David Osborne said: “The tour was a great way to end a successful season and it is a real pleasure to coach a superb bunch of lads who will go a long way.

“New players are always more than welcome to come along to the club.”