The Easter bank holiday weekend is always a good occasion for sports, especially for rugby in Falmouth where each year one of the oldest tours in the game takes place.

Falmouth Rugby Club played hosts to their dear friends the Old Dunstonians on Easter Saturday for the 87th Tour to the Recreation Ground. Back in 1927 an intrepid party of 23 adventurous young men from the OD's (Kent) first headed to the southwest in search of rugby fellowship and fun.

Friends old and new gather at the Recreation Ground (Image: Falmouth Rugby)

Falmouth were proud hosts and little did they know what a fine tradition it would become. The official account of the inaugural tour for the Old Dunstonians was played 3, won 1, lost 2, and that summarises an old saying for the clubs: "While the primary object is to play rugby football, the social side is also most important, sailing parties, boarding parties, and all sorts of parties were undertaken - all of which proved most successful".

An observation that holds true to this day, and still serves as an apt philosophy for Ye Old Easter Tour. Former Falmouth player and now Club brand and social ambassador Danny Trick said: "Surely, had their primary reason for touring been to win matches, visits to the Duchy would have ended long ago."

It was fitting therefore that although Falmouth had been handed their first win at the Rec this season by the Ref, who deemed the final score 34-27, it was "The Falmouth Social" who immediately overturned the decision to deem it a draw 27-27.

The match comes to an end and both sides get ready to head to the bar (Image: Falmouth Rugby)

Match Programme by Justthetrickdesign

As the relative fortunes of the clubs have fluctuated, so have the results, but one constant has been the long-lasting friendships formed.

Back in 1927 matches were played against Redruth, Hayle, and Falmouth, and in the ensuing years the OD's have played against a further eight clubs in West Cornwall. Their first match against Penryn was in 1930, and in the years since it has been the principal fixture on the tour held on Good Friday.

Truro was added in 1950 and has become the third fixture often played on Sunday. Other clubs who have provided opposition and hospitality over the years include Newlyn, Penzance, St Day, St Ives Camborne, and Camborne School of Mines.

The current format of Penryn, Falmouth, Truro (in that order) has been in place since 1976 and is almost set in stone, becoming a steady and reassuring constant in the fixture list of these four clubs, despite the many changes and challenges to the season's calendar that league rugby has brought with it.

When explaining the history Danny Trick said that a mention must also be made of St Agnes RFC, founded in 1972, and whom, through OD connections on the north coast, they first played in 1974. Unfortunately, the lack of players, and logistical problems associated with four games in a five-day weekend, along with Sunday lunches proved insurmountable for the OD's to continue. However, they played St Agnes before the Falmouth match as part of the 75th celebrations in 2009.

The tour has certainly changed over the years in order to survive while tour hotels and favourite pubs have come and gone other traditions have had to change such as the famous "Pope Run" in which tour members compete for the prestige of earning the coveted "Pope Tie" as they run through the high street of Penryn partaking in refreshments at various establishments.

When reminiscing about changes to the tour, Danny said: "We were pleased to see the introduction of a 'Tour Priest' this year to oversee the tradition and well-being of tour members."

Other changes have been made in recent years, the formal Sunday Lunch has regrettably had to be shelved, and the Monday fixture moved to Sunday, the format becoming an even more demanding three games in three days. However, the OD's retain the Sunday Lunch for landmark occasions and they are all looking forward to the 90th tour in a few years' time.

One thing that remains is the spirit in which this fixture is played and the Falmouth Clubhouse never fails to provide a wonderful setting for festivities, with emotions invariably running high, the kindness and mutual support between the clubs remains strong.

The Tour also allows for family traditions within the game to continue, enabling player combinations you wouldn't normally see in a standard league fixture. Falmouth's own Neville Curnow playing alongside his nephew Rowan O'Regan some thirty years his junior.

A Family game Neville Curnow and nephew Rowan O'Regan (Image: Neil Johnston)

While reflecting on the weekend Danny said: "On their 87th tour, we welcomed our Old friends with sincerity and remain privileged to receive them year after year. We are rightfully proud of the fact that of the dozens of clubs who, years ago, headed west at the end of the season, the Old Dunstonian Rugby Football Club has faithfully kept on touring."

Upcoming events for the club:

• The Falmouth Eagles return to the Rec on Saturday 15th in the Papa Johns Community Shield South (Counties 1) second round v Swindon College Old Boys (KO 15:00) and will be hoping to continue their cup run.
• On Wednesday 19th April newly elected President Paul Radmore will be putting out a presidents XV v Cornwalls Presidents XV at home on the Recreation ground (KO 18:45).

The Falmouth Rugby Club is also proud to announce that for only the fourth time in their 150-year history, they will be the host of the Cornwall RFU Finals Day on Saturday 22nd April with a whole day of rugby:

11:00 - Duchy Shield - TBC

13:00 Senior Duchy Shield - Bude Rugby Club 2xv v Wadebridge Camels IIs or Launceston Castles

15:00 Duchy Cup - St Austell Rugby Football Club SPARTANS v Veor RFC 2xv

17:00 Senior Duchy Cup - St Austell SINNERS v Redruth RFC 2xv

Remember you can follow the club on social media here: Falmouth Rugby