I’ve just packed two 90L Osprey Transporter Bags full of 270 rugby balls!

Not a usual statement I agree, but the first week of our trip to Rwanda this May Half Term is a Rugby Coaching Tour in local schools in Ruhango, just South West of Kigali, with Friends of Rwandan Rugby.

Friends of Rwandan Rugby is a small, innovative charity which teaches the joys of rugby to boys and girls in some of the most impoverished regions of Rwanda. FoRR’s mission is to promote reconciliation through sport, using rugby to build trust, friendships and foster shared experiences on the rugby field.

The charity organises a Coaching Tour every year to a different part of Rwanda.  This year is the 10th and largest tour yet with 11 members. We will spend time with the Rugby Development Officers visiting schools, clubs, orphanages and colleges meeting and engaging with children and young adults. I can’t wait for my children to be part of such a wonderful and uplifting adventure.

One of the many roles the volunteers play when they decide to head out to Rwanda is to take kit with them into the country.  Hence the packing of 270 rugby balls into an Osprey Transporter.

Having travelled a lot, we do have quite a collection of suitcases of varying types and sizes, but for this trip I needed something light weight and sturdy that would reduce in size as donations were made and something that would pack up small for the return leg.

The Osprey Transporter is described on Osprey’s website as: built for the long haul; a lightweight, gear hauling, duffel companion which packs down small but holds all you could need. Sounds perfect!

When they arrived I was actually very surprised, and a little worried if I’m honest, about how small the packaging was in comparison to the boxes of balls I had to pack.

However the bag is just cleverly packed and when it’s taken out and unfolded its size becomes very apparent.  The green inside is bright and cheerful but also means that you know you’ve got to the bottom of the bag and does actually help you find things in it!  The pockets are useful, the zips are strong and the whole bag feels incredibly well put together.  It was the perfect bag to take with us on our adventure.

Summary: The bag survived our 4 flights and being hauled on and off buses throughout our two weeks in Africa. In fact it more than survived it looks as good as it did when I opened it. One of the bags didn’t make it home, but only because it was co-opted by the team out in Rwanda to carry their balls around in from training session to training session.

Great travel bag – Highly recommended.

If you want to see how we got on on our trip do take a look at the video we made!

NB: We were sent the Osprey Transporter to use for our trip but all views and opinions are my own.