Cobra youngsters’ Italian job!

A team of U15 players from Cobra Rugby Club will be embarking on their very own Italian job later this week.

In fact, the talented crop of youngsters will be taking part in two tournaments on the continent, and also enjoy a trip to Venice in between.

First up is an invitation to the Carwyn James Under 16 Trophy to be held in the Pieve de Cento Stadium in Ferrara on April 18, in conjunction with the Italian Rugby Federation.

Cobra will join five Italian teams following an invitation to U15s Head Coach, Alun Pryce, from Carwyn’s nephew, Llyr, who organises a rugby tournament in his uncle’s memory every year and invites a Welsh team to take part.

Carwyn was a Welsh international who went on to coach Llanelli RFC and the British Lions in 1971, which is still the only Lions team to have won a series over the All Blacks.

In 1972, whilst coaching at Llanelli, his side had the infamous win over the All Blacks. He then went on to coach teams in Northern Italy in the late 70’s and early 80’s and is a rugby legend there too.

Two days later, there is a second tournament called the Montgomery Cup in Oderzo, near Venice, in conjunction with the Italian Rugby Federation.

This tournament is in memory of Kenneth Montgomery, a World War I pilot shot down in the town in 1918 and a former pupil of Rugby School in Warwickshire. Cobra will join three Italian teams plus teams from Bucharest, Romania, and Prague, Czech Republic.

The lads will fly out as a squad of 23, accompanied by 25 supporters, and will be based in the coastal town of Chioggia Sotomarina. In between the two tournaments, there is a rest day when the tourists will take a day trip to Venice by boat.

“The Cobra players, coaches and families wish to thank their sponsors Alan Jukes Steel Framed Buildings, Cambrian Training, Morgans Newtown and Gwyn Jones Meifod for supporting them and making this wonderful experience possible,” said a Cobra statement.

Coach, Alun Pryce, added: “This is a tremendous opportunity for the Cobra lads to test themselves against some of the best sides in Europe and they are all looking forward to the challenge.”