RUGBY UNION
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Matthew Sandell is all set for his biggest rugby tour of his life.
The Mudgee Wombat junior will fly out today for a month-long tour of the United Kingdom with the Australian Schoolboys rugby team.
It is the first time Sandell will venture over to the mother land and he was daunted by the task in front of him.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It is going to be a pretty good experience,” Sandell said.
It is a welcome return for Sandell to the national schoolboys line-up after he missed matches against Fiji and New Zealand last month because of injury.
He had stress fractures in his right foot but he as been given the green light to play.
It is going to be busy tour for Australian team as they play matches in less than four weeks.
They kick-off their tour against Wales A in Neath on Friday.
They will also play Test matches against Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland.
“It is going a completely different challenge,” the front rower said.
“They play a different style of play. They like to keep the ball close in the forwards especially after line-outs and scrums.
“We are playing under the new [scrum] laws too so it should be very tough.”
Not only do the schoolboys have to contend with the mystery style of play by their northern rivals, they will have to battle the conditions.
As it approaching winter in the UK, maximum temperatures rarely reach double figures. Mostly they stay in the minuses.
“It’s going to be pretty cold but there is nothing much you can do,” he said.
Prior to the clash with the Welsh national counterparts, the schoolboys will hold a training session with the Wallabies.
The schoolboys will be presented with their jersey by the Wallabies.
Sandell and his teammates will attend the Wallabies last match of their spring tour against Wales at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on November 30.
Sandell’s UK tour
Australian Schoolboys’ schedule:
November 22 - Wales A at Neath.
November 27 - Wales at Neath.
December 1 - Ospreys at Bridgend.
December 4 - England at Harrow School.
December 8 - Scotland at Edinburgh.
December 11 - Leinster Schools at Donnybrook.
December 14 - Ireland at Belfast.
December 17 - Munster Schools at Limerick.