Tour of duty has Adams on high

A summer rugby tour to New Zealand has been hailed by a Shropshire school as a major factor in their success in this season's Daily Mail Under-18 Cup.

Adams Grammar, Newport, have reached the last 16 of the national KO and will play host to Warwick School when they aim for the quarter-finals tomorrow (2.30pm).

But David Tozer, Adams' master of rugby, believes the form and confidence they found during their trip to the other side of the world has been a massive influence.

They won seven of the 10 games they played in New Zealand as part of a major sports tour to celebrate the school's 350th anniversary.

"We took 90 kids in all including hockey and netball teams, so it was a major undertaking," said Tozer.

"But we also took two rugby sides and we've taken our form from the tour into the Daily Mail.

"We've been to Australia, South Africa and Canada, but this was our first time to New Zealand.

"We thought the opposition would be pretty tough out there and we are quite a young side. But we came back with a pretty good record and we have continued that form."

Looking to tomorrow's tie, Tozer added: "We will be underdogs, there is no doubt about that. But it's a big game for us and it's created a real buzz of excitement."

The Adams' squad includes prop Mike Hill and hooker Mike Willetts, who have both played for North Midlands Under-18s this season, and lock Graham Kitchener, an England Under-16 international in 2006.

Kitchener's caps are already on display in the school alongside those won by Peter Short, the Bath back-row forward, 10 years ago.