Training began in earnest for Yarm School's senior rugby players when they returned to school this week as they've got a notable fixture lined-up.

They are preparing for a three week tour to South America next August and former British Lion, Doddie Weir this week paid a visit to the school to offer some coaching tips.

The tour will see them play a number of matches in Argentina and Chile as well as visiting Uruguay and Brazil in what promises to be the high point of the Yarm players' rugby careers to date and will act as preparation for the season which follows.

The tour was officially launched this week with the help of the Newcastle Falcons who visited the school with their Community Team and they spent time talking to the boys about touring and also to put them through their paces on the training ground. Local boy Gareth Maclure, together with Weir and Springbok Marius Hurter took the boys for a training session to give them an idea of the drills used in the first class game, as well as the skill and fitness levels to which they should be aspiring.

An additional incentive for Yarm was provided when they discovered the Falcons had made them team of the month on the official Falcons website at www.newcastle-falcons.co.uk.

The tour party is made up of 36 players and four members of staff. Most of the team were part of Yarm's highly successful Under-15 team of last year who made it to the semi-final of the national Daily Mail Cup and narrowly missed out on a place in the final at Twickenham.

Tour Leader John Logan believes rugby is becoming more popular in the region more associated with its love of football.

"Although the South American countries are probably better known for their passionate interest in football there is quite a rugby following - it is a rapidly developing game and schools and clubs are extremely keen to welcome teams from the more established rugby nations," said Logan.

He added: "Our boys will find the competition there quite tough but I am sure that they will enjoy the challenge.

"They will visit the Iguazu Falls in Argentina as well as having time off to do some horse riding, walking and other activities in the Andes."