COBRA’s under 15s stars enjoyed a taste of the continent with a tour of Italy over Easter.

The Meifod club took part in the Carwyn James Easter Tournament in the Italian coastal resort town of Chioggia Sottomorina.

A 23 man squad was 25 strong group of supporters enjoyed a tour of Pieve di Cento and met the mayor and organisers at the town theatre before being told the history of the tournament and Alun Gibbards book ‘Into the Wind’ about Carwyn James.

The club was met warmly by players and supporters at Pieve di Cento Rugby Club.

On the pitch the Welsh tourists opened their tournament with a 43-0 thrashing of Selezione before edging a 10-7 win over Polesine in their second game.

COBRA lost to hosts Pieve di Cento 15-0 in their final game to end runners-up.

The following day the club tour headed to Venice and a tour of the famous city before embarking on their second competition of the tour, the Montgomery Cup.

The cup was hosted by Grifoni Oderzo Rugby Club in an area of known locally as Little Wales.

Following another warm welcome from the town mayor the Meifod side opened with a bruising 5-0 defeat against Pordenone before bouncing back to beat Prague of the Czech Republic 12-0 and Lagaria and Valdinievole 34-0.

COBRA ended the tournament on a high with a 7-0 win over Grifoni Oderzo to clinch runners-up spot.

Iestyn Price scooped the player of the tournament award with

Coach Alun Pryce said: “I’m exceptionally proud of how the boys conducted themselves on and off the field andproved to be great ambassadors.

“A special thanks to our sponsors Cambrian Training, Alan Jukes Steel Frame Buildings Ltd, Gwyn Jones of Meifod and Morgans of Newtown.”