Day 28 Auckland Incheon

We will be home tomorrow. Melly was back to his normal self, he had us up at 4.30am. All packed and on the bus for Auckland Airport at 5.15am. Flying long distance is about eating and sleeping. The boys are accomplished at both. We arrived at Incheon international airport Korea at 9.30pm. We got a bus transfer to the nearby Hyatt Regency hotel. Very pleasantly surprised with our opulent surroundings. This hotel lifestyle will be just be a memory as tomorrow the end of the tour is nigh.

The Mr. C team needs to be revealed at this stage. Our chief photographer has been the one and only Mr. O’Brien, Pob to the boys. Writers have been Mr. Brew, Mr. Newsome and editor in chief Mr. Corbett. Many thanks for your comments and feedback to our blog. Keep and eye on this space over the coming months. We might get a chance to follow the senior cup team next season. And finally the biggest thank you has to go to Mr. Andrew Melville for organizing an absolutely wonderful tour, which has passed off without a hitch. He has introduced us to the sights and delights of New Zealand leaving us with long lasting memories and an urging to return some day.

Day 27 Auckland

Our last full day in New Zealand. We left the hotel at ten for a quick drive around
the outskirts of the city. Then to Mt. Eden for a view of Auckland’s stunning
cityscape. This dormant volcano sits proudly over the city on the opposite side
of the bay. From here we could see our next destination, the under‐construction
Eden Park, which will host the 2011 World Cup Final. Sadly we were a week late
for the Australia match but nice to see the ground non‐the‐less. Here we got to
see their Hall of Legends, the corporate boxes and, surprisingly, some ex‐Irish
international memorabilia. After seeing the Park it was time for lunch and
shopping. Yes, I know! Shopping on a rugby trip! But then again, that may mean
some good presents for the rest of the family. For this we headed to Dress Smart
Outlet Mall in the burbs. No Uggs but plenty of rugby gear. An invite from
Auckland Grammar saw three of the teachers visit the school. The Deputy
Headmaster, Mr. Mark Vella, and the Headmaster Mr. John Morris kindly
welcomed us to the school. Both recounted found memories of the exchange
programme between the two schools in the 90’s. Mr. Allan Faull Director of
International students at the school also had many stories to tell of the
Newbridge boy’s time in Auckland. Now the hard bit, back to the hotel to pack
and get under the weight restriction. Dinner and a chance to take in the last
sights of the city was followed by an early night in preparation for tomorrows
early start.