A week-long Rugby Union Tour to Perth from 3-10 April made the 2025 Easter holidays one to remember for 38 girls and boys Senior Rugby players at Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast.
The students in Years 10, 11 and 12 embraced a range of development opportunities on tour, including training at the magnificent Hale School ovals and playing rugby union matches against teams from Hale School, Aranmore Catholic College and Wanneroo Rugby Club.
Flinders Boys Firsts Captain, William L, reflected on the tour, noting, “It was an unforgettable experience, filled with tough matches, team bonding and plenty of memories.”
Neve W, the Girls Firsts Captain, was grateful for the experience. “We learnt so much and improved with every minute on the field. The atmosphere was intense and it really challenged us to step up as a team.”
The touring group was guided by six dedicated staff members, including Flinders’ new Director of Rugby, Mr Matt Crawford, who has coached many 1st grade, representative school boys and school rugby teams, along with the Flinders Head of Sport, Mr Adam Ridgewell.
Mr Crawford, who joined the College in January 2025, said the tour was successful in developing the players’ match skills against more experienced teams and building team spirit.
“As staff, we enjoyed supporting the students on tour, and seeing them embrace every opportunity offered to them over the seven days,” Mr Crawford said.
“Through our 2025 Flinders Rugby program, we are focused on building a strong and inclusive team culture at Flinders, developing player potential and wellbeing, and creating an environment where every player can thrive.”
The College thanked tour sponsors, Noosa Partners and SVS Auto Care, both Sunshine Coast businesses, who generously funded the official tour uniform kit.
The touring group also enjoyed the city’s cultural and leisure activities, with a night guided-tour of Fremantle Prison, a visit to the vibrant Fremantle Markets and an unforgettable final day cycling around Rottnest Island, complete with snorkelling and up-close encounters with the island’s famous quokkas.
For many students, a highlight was a personalised tour of the Western Force headquarters, providing an insider’s look at the training environment created to support professional rugby athletes. It was also a chance to catch up with Peter Slattery—ex Wallaby and an Old Flinderian parent; his son, Zen, is an Old Flinderian.
The group also attended a thrilling AFL clash between the Fremantle Dockers and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.
Rugby at Flinders
Previous Flinders rugby tours have included the seven-day New Zealand multi-sports tour in 2024 when 54 students participated across the sports of netball, rugby, hockey, tennis and soccer; and a five-day Sydney tour in 2023 for the Flinders Firsts XV boys team.
Flinders offers a range of training, competitive and representative opportunities for Secondary School students to develop in rugby union, including through the College inter-school sport program, school representative pathways and College tours, including the annual TAS Rugby Carnival in Armidale, NSW.
There are also Sport Scholarships and the Flinders Elite Athlete Program to further support elite student athletes to develop through sport while committing to their academic journey.
Reflections from our Flinders Rugby Captains
Flinders First XI Boy’s Captain, William L:
“We kicked things off with a game against Hale College. It was a close match where we really showed what we were capable of, even though we narrowly lost. Our team gave it their all and came off the field with our heads held high.
The next match was against Aranmore College. This one hit a bit harder; we lost by a significant margin. But instead of letting it get us down, that game brought us closer together, and by the end, it really felt like we were more of a family than just teammates.
We also had an opposed training session with Scotch College, which pushed us physically and mentally. It was great to test ourselves against another strong team and work on our skills in a different environment.
Away from the footy, we had a blast on the final day at Rottnest Island— a highlight of the trip. We also went to the Western Force Super Rugby game, and an AFL game, which was a great way to learn from the pros and recover in between our harsh matches.
“Overall, the Perth tour was more than just rugby—it was about mateship, growth, and making memories we won’t forget.”
Flinders Girls Rugby Captain, Neve W:
“The Perth rugby tour was an unforgettable experience. We played tough games against strong local teams and unfortunately lost both of the girls games, however we learnt so much and improved with every minute on the field. The atmosphere was intense and it really challenged us to step up as a team.
“As Captain, I could really feel that although we were losing, the team was really bonding. Every tackle made was for your teammate, and not letting them down. Walking away with a few painful drop tackles, I think the games were really worth it. Coming home and versing the Sunshine Coast teams will be a breeze.
“Off the field, the trip was packed with amazing activities. One of the highlights was visiting Rottnest Island – the beaches were stunning, and getting to see the famous quokkas up close was definitely something I’ll never forget. We also got to soak in some incredible sporting events, including watching a live rugby match and our first AFL game, which was way more intense and exciting than I expected.
“Another great experience which was really unexpected was the bus rides from destinations. Travelling together really lets me connect to people that I wouldn't normally be able to connect to.”
Some photo highlights from the tour
