At the end of July 2023, the first leg of an under 16s rugby exchange between Harrogate and Barrie saw the Harrogate team head off to Canada for a nine day visit.

Aside from the competitive rugby matches themselves, and the wonderful opportunities to make new contacts and friends, the local organisers had included some amazing visits and activities.

These included a visit to the spectacular Niagara Falls, going up the CN Tower in Toronto, a visit to a historical site dating from the time of the first settlements in the 1600s, and a taste of canoeing on the up-country lakes and rivers.

In Barrie itself, they visited the massive Spirit Catcher statue which overlooks the bay, went swimming in the lake at the foreshore beach, met Alex Nuttall the Mayor in the Council Chamber, and helped to mark Yorkshire Day on 1 August with the raising of the Yorkshire flag in Barrie.

Mayor Nuttall said:

“These young men were excellent ambassadors for Harrogate and their rugby club. They were a delight to host, and strengthened a rapidly developing link between our two towns. Both towns have so much to offer each other.”

There was much local coverage, including on the evening television news.