Seventeen students are visiting from Japan, Argentina and Romania

The 2024 International Rugby Programme (IRP) starts with 17 students (11 boys and six girls) from Japan, Argentina and Romania, with some returning in June and more arriving for the second half of the programme. The IRP is a stand-alone course offering English classes, skill and weights sessions, plus a variety of mental skills sessions and guest speakers.

The programme is designed to develop the students as rugby players and, even more importantly, to see them grow as young people. The boys in particular proactively interact with their Bedean peers, bringing an extra layer of diversity to the college campus through our national sport.

Now that two weeks have passed, all the boys and girls have played in at least one match, settled into their homestays, and have started to make new friends. The welcome from the local boys has been just as warm as in previous years. Year 13 player Solomon Spanton, who played with IRP boys in the 2nd XV last year, said: “I think the IRP brought a great sense of diversity to our team. Our family hosted one of the Japanese boys and I found that to be a very enjoyable experience.”

If past programmes are anything to go by, these friendships often continue for many years after the boys finish at St Bede’s. At the 2019 World Cup in Japan, IRP old boy, 1st XV player and Welsh international Josh Navidi (2018), commented that he was very happy to have met six of his Bedean teammates at various games and Welsh team practices around Japan. As it happens, Josh is one of some 30 former IRP players who have gone on to earn national honours in nine different countries.

The 2024 IRP boys will play in various teams at St Bede’s and the girls for the Old Boys’ RFC Senior Girls’ team.

The girls are enrolled through our sister school Marian College and will spend Fridays there. Nanaka Ikeuchi commented on their experience at Marian College last Friday: “We had a wonderful time in some PE and Japanese language classes. In the Japanese classes we introduced ourselves and sang some songs. At interval we really enjoyed mixing with lots of local Marian girls.”

Guillermo Quiroga-Oliver, from Argentina, says: “It has been two weeks since I arrived and I must say that I did not imagine that everything would be as good as it is. Playing rugby in New Zealand and learning from the best is a wonderful thing. On top of that, being able to learn English and share life in my host family's house is something that will surely stay with me forever.”