By 
0
0
Following months of careful planning by the VRC Rugby Tour Committee, Rowers Rugby’s third consecutive World Cup Tour has taken shape. The white hot pre-sale offering sold out in 24 hours, forcing a roster expansion and an extended waiting list full of VRC Rugby members eager to be a part of what is shaping up to be the club’s best World Cup Tour yet.
Nantes
The Tour’s first fixture is Saturday September 30th in Nantes, where the Rowers will be at the Stade de Beanjoir to watch whichever Americas team is able to make it through the qualifying stages take on Argentina in a group stage match.
Bordeaux
The world-famous wine mecca of Bordeaux will be prepared to receive the Rowers World Tour on the first of October, just as the grape harvest begins. Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, the one-time home of VRC Rugby and VRC World Tour legend Richard Bice, has arranged to host the Rowers for an evening friendly to kick off two days in wine country.
Montpellier
Those who make the bus October 3rd will be taken South to the warm and inviting town of Montpellier, hailed by the The Telegraph‘s rugby tour guide in 2012 for its “sensuous elegance, with brains to match. Stately, insurgent and ever still.” Wikipedia lists the daily mean October temperature in Montpellier as 16° C, the average high 21 °C, and an average low of 12 °C.
The Tour will be hosted by Jacou Montpellier Nord, former home of VRC Coach Chris Seyler for a friendly October 4th, before getting back on the bus the next day to make the trek to Lyon.
Lyon
France’s second largest city figures to be going full tilt when the Rowers arrive October 5th, the World Cup tournament already well underway. The tour will be attending two World Cup fixtures down the home stretch, New Zealand vs America 1, and Italy vs. France. There are three days in total to explore the former Capital of the Gauls, and present-day home of Interpol. Reached for comment about the Rowers 2023 tour late Friday, the agency told us that they have a policy not to speak to the press about ongoing or prospective investigations, and reminded us that their jurisdiction is limited to transnational crime.
The Details
Tour Director Jamie Overgaard has worked diligently with French language liaison John Mergui and Treasurer Cam Tompkins to put this priceless package together at an affordable rate. The Tour committee has arranged a payment schedule that secures all in-country transportation, accommodations and match tickets without putting the Tour members on the hook for the cost up front. The payment schedule for the tour and FAQ are available here. All of the above is included, and more, but airfare to and from Paris is not included.
Some of you may want to ask what happens to your money if the tour is called off due to plague or natural disaster. We’re pleased to report that, in their wisdom and ingenuity, the Tour Committee has managed to secure a financial guarantee for this tour from Her Majesty The Queen (seriously!).
Vive la France!
By 
