On Friday the 18th June, a GHA squad consisting of 17 1st and 2nd team players will embark on a short tour to California. They are scheduled to play two fixtures against two of America's most famous clubs.

First up, they take on the Santa Monica Rugby Club of Los Angeles where they will meet up with former HA and GHA lock, Johnnie Mundell. Unfortunately, Johnnie is unable to pull on the Green and Red for one last time due to a "wrecked knee". Santa Monica is also the home club of Augustin Baldioli. Most will remember him as 'Oggy' the big hairy prop who played for us during the 2006/07 season.

Santa Monica are a perennial powerhouse of American rugby and since their foundation in 1972, they have seen no fewer than 20 players go on to play for the US National Team, 3 of which were to captain their country.

The second game is against San Francisco Golden Gate, the 2009 US National Champions and the runners-up in the 2010 championship. SFGG are a club with a not too dissimilar history to GHA, having been formed in 2001 with the merger of two former foes and with the ambition of creating a club capable of competing at the top level in American rugby. With 1 win and 3 runner-up awards in the last 4 US National Championships, they haven't done too badly.

The anticipated team to take the field in the first game will be/resemble the following:

1. Josh Low
2. Chris Landsburgh
3. John Willock
4. Paul MacLeod
5. Ryan Jenkins
6. Ben Farrell
7. Jamie Pinder
8. Dominic Kellock

9. Stuart Keenan
10. James Noonan

11. Scott Weir
12. Chris Binnie
13. Niall Cassie (c)
14. Rangi Jericevich
15. Ross McClymont

16. Gordon Adams
17. An honorary Scotsman
18. Another honorary Scotsman

Waterboy: Martin Hilley