Many tours or holiday destinations claim to be 'The trip of a lifetime' but for Vandals in 1997, the decision to travel to The Philippines and Hong Kong to take part firstly in the Manila 10's , then the Hong Kong 10's and lastly to watch the World Cup 7's really did live up to that title. Credit for organising the tour was entirely due to John 'Willo' Wilson who had spent time living in the Far East and playing in Singapore.

A strong touring party left for Manila at the end of the 1997 season having spent several weeks practicing the game of 10's. A number of Senior Vandals members joined the players to make this, despite the huge challenge a truly inclusive tour. After a long overnight flight to Manila, the tour started with our coach taking out the airport PA system and then knocking a car park barrier onto a police car, luckily things improved shortly afterwards. Straight down to the Fire Station Bar, the Vandals players were greeted like international celebrities. It didn't take long before the four tour virgins (all of whom performed miraculously throughout the tour) were up on stage dressed in bikini's go-go dancing - much to the crowds delight.

After a very late finish, the following day was spent acclimatising round the pool at the Manila Nomads facilities before the competition started. The conditions were the biggest shock to the players. With playing temperatures in the 90's and 90% humidity many sides would have wilted - luckily Vandals had to cope by drinking copious amounts of beer to keep their fluid levels up when not playing! Our first match was against a Waikato touring side and although we lost, the experienced side from New Zealand were given a good run for their money. As the competition progressed, it became clear that Vandals were no match for some of the very experienced ex-pat sides that travel to this competition every year from all over Asia. But as luck would have it though we found ourselves through to the plate competition after a tie breaking sprint-off won by Steve Lehup - and amongst sides playing at our level of rugby. A hard fought plate-final against french side - Corsairs - went to extra time and a 'Golden Try' situation. Remarkably, an old Vandal having moved back to his home country appeared from the crowd, volunteering to play scrum half for the Vandals. With the pressure on both sides to score, he did us proud, going over in the corner to give Vandals a glorious victory that no-one present will ever forget! The day was helped along by a couple of local night club owners then offering all the silverware winning sides free drinks! It was an opportunity too good to miss and many hours of free drinks later we found ourselves at Manila Airport (duty free rum 70p a bottle) en-route to Hong Kong.

Flying into Kai-Tek was as hair raising as the books say and with a significant drop in temperature the conditions appeared far more conducive to Vandals style of play. Having arrived early in the evening, tour leader Willo then pulled another surprise out of the bag. With everyone required to rendezvous at the harbour a short while later we then travelled by boat accross Hong Kong harbour at night to a floating restaraunt for a 'welcome to Hong Kong meal!'

Play in the Hong Kong 10's tournament began in earnest and it was then we discovered just how good the standard of rugby is at these events. Playing against sides from Fiji and Japan, it was luck of the draw whether you progressed through the competition and with some of the top sides sporting professional All Black players it was probably just as well that Vandals bowed out before the final stages. However, despite coming second at rugby, Vandals were determined to prove that they were made of sterner stuff and to this end we saved the best 'till last. At the closing party - a huge marquee with 1500-2000 people eating and drinking copious amounts of beer - it became apparent that all the sides were expected to perform a song or sketch for the crowds entertainment. Early acts that failed to come up to scratch were pelted with food and jeered. With Vandals honour at stake it was time to show them what we were made of (literally)

As Captain, Spud and Lee (Leek Brocolli) Bradley took the stage to set the scene, the entire Vandals touring party appeared naked from the back of the crowd before taking the stage in all their glory! A rousing rendition of 'JC' left the crowd speechless, with not one item thrown on stage. This was followed by a standing ovation and comments from our Australian peers that we had 'balls of iron'!

A few days spent relaxing during the World Cup 7's rounded off what truly was 'The trip of a lifetime'