Great British Beer Festival visitor wins the ultimate rugby travel package

Pictured: Former Rugby Union players Greg Bateman and Tom May at the Great British Beer Festival

David Kelly, 36, London has won the ultimate rugby travel package by attending the Great British Beer Festival – £3,000 worth of sports travel vouchers redeemable through MSG Tours.

The vouchers can be used towards any rugby travel packages including the Six Nations, Dubai 7’s and official travel packages to Rugby World Cup France, complete with hotels, flights, transfers, and inclusions.

The competition to win this lucky prize draw took place on the grounds of the Great British Beer Festival, which featured nearly a thousand different beers, ciders, fine wines, and gins all under one roof.

Winner David Kelly said: “I am a big rugby fan and have been following Ireland in all of the major tournaments and internationals since I was a teenager. I am also a huge beer fan and regularly attend beer festivals and love to watch all the big games at the pub with friends as we wrap ourselves around many pints of lager or stout and cheer on our teams. I find that the social nature of beer plays a big role in bringing us together as well as with other rugby fans whether they come from Ireland, England, Wales or even Western Samoa such is its ability to draw people of different nationalities together!”

Launching the partnership between MSG Tours and CAMRA saw former rugby union players Tom May and Greg Bateman live on the grounds of the festival where they gave a talk on the unique relationship between rugby and beer.

Tom May, a former rugby union player with a nineteen-year long career including two caps for England said at the festival: “Rugby is brilliant for having a beer with your mates, but it’s also about traveling around the world and experiencing different cultures.”

Greg Bateman is a recently retired rugby union player, from Dragons, Leicester Tigers, Exeter Chiefs and London Welsh. He founded the People’s Captain, which aims to use the social nature of craft beer to bring people together.

Bateman added: “I think the best thing about rugby is that you can go into a rugby game, stand next to a fan from the other team and have a beer together. You don’t get that in other sports, but you get that in rugby.”

Commercial Director Kev Smith from MSG Tours said: “Huge congratulations to David, we can’t wait to hear where you’re planning to go. Whether it’s a trip to Rome for the Six Nations or weekend in Paris for the Rugby Word Cup Final next year, we’ve got you covered!”