South Africa Tour 2025 Preview
The Under 15 Boys are set to embark on the 23rd Tour of South Africa today (Thursday, 16 October). Find out more about the tour by reading this year's brochure.
14 players will follow in the footsteps of more than 300 previous tourists when they travel to the Southern Hemisphere next week, stopping at Kruger National Park and Cape Town during their fortnight in South Africa.
Ahead of this season's tour, tourist Alex Roper and tour coach Niall Leahy preview the 2025 trip.
Keep up to date with the latest from the tour on Facebook, Instagram and Play Cricket.
Player's Preview
Alex Roper is a left-arm off-spinning all-rounder from Budleigh Salterton CC.
"I am really excited for the upcoming cricket tour of South Africa as I feel it will be a brilliant mix of playing cricket and exploring a new country.
"Kruger National Park will be an incredible experience, seeing some amazing wildlife, trying new foods, and playing cricket in a completely new and challenging environment. I'm also looking forward to playing a bit of golf, avoiding the crocodiles!
"I am especially looking forward to exploring Cape Town, climbing up Table Mountain and going to the beaches where we will hopefully see some penguins!
"The mix of cricket formats is a very exciting prospect. I can’t wait to play under lights in Cape Town and, as a spinner, I'm hoping the warm, dry conditions will suit my style of bowling.
"This will be the longest I have been away from home, but spending over two weeks with the team will be a great experience and bring us closer together as a group. We will certainly look to make some great memories while we're away!
"I am enormously grateful to have been given this opportunity, and I certainly plan to make the most of the experience from both a cricket and a personal perspective."
Coach's Preview
Niall Leahy will be embarking on his first-ever tour of South Africa, having been a Performance Pathway Coach for six years and the Lead Coach of the Under 14 Boys in 2025, and will be coaching the current touring party over the upcoming winter.
"I am really privileged to have been asked to join the touring party for this year's trip to South Africa. This is my first time being part of any sports tour, and I am really looking forward to the opportunity to experience cricket in a different country, as well as getting to see South Africa and take in the culture.
"Since being involved with the Performance Pathway, going to South Africa as a coach has always been something I hoped I would get the chance to do one day. A big thank you to Matt Theedom and Matt Cooke for making it happen!
"For the players, I hope they are looking forward to the challenges of a tour and are ready to really take in the opportunity they have. The chance to play cricket abroad is not something everyone is lucky enough to get, so I hope the players seize this chance to take in everything South Africa has to offer them as they continue their cricket journey."
Squad
Back row: Alfie Butterfield (Sandford CC), Freddie Tucker (North Devon CC & Exeter CC), Albie Bradley (Bovey Tracey CC), Alex Tipper (Exeter CC), Ben Ledwidge (Exeter CC), Jasper Bubb (Exeter CC), Alex Roper (Budleigh Salterton CC), Connor Trott (Kilmington CC & Culmstock CC).
Front row: Noah Tovell (North Devon CC), Zac Salter (Culmstock CC), Muhammad Kaleem (Exeter CC), Archie Hall (Plymstock CC), Warrick Green (Ipplepen CC), Leo Raichura (Sidmouth CC).
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank everyone who has contributed and supported the players in their preparation for the 2025 tour:
| A Clements Allsports Coaching | AJ Gibbons | AJ Handyman Services |
| Aspect Windows | Avocet Wealth Partnership | Bespoke & Beyond Timber Buildings |
| Bovey Tracey Cricket Club | Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club | Cazenove Capital |
| Cooper Associates Wealth Management | Crediton Church Governors | Culmstock Cricket Club |
| David Coates Wealth Management | David Field Wealth Management | Devon Stone |
| Durman Electrical | E Pearse | Exeter Finance |
| Expidite | Fearnley Cricket Shop Devon | First Physio |
| Gater Contractors | GD Construction Solutions Ltd | Genella Toghill |
| Graphic PLC | Hall and Scott Estate Agents | Home Fire |
| Ideal Commercial Laundry Ltd | Ipplepen Cricket Club | Jackson-Stops, Exeter |
| Jewson | JT Wealth Management | Kalipso Coffee & Bagel |
| Katie Thomson Marketing | Kilmington Cricket Club | Kingswood Construction |
| Lings Leisure | Lions Sports Travel | Lloyd & Whyte |
| Magdalen Health | McKinley White | Michael Spires |
| Mr & Mrs Howard | Mr Oliver Starr | Muhammad Kaleem's Friends and Family |
| New Space Architecture | North Devon Cricket Club | NV Play |
| Pamela Tilney Ellis | Peninsula Orthopaedics Ltd | Peter Lucketti |
| Plymouth College | Plymstock Cricket Club | Plymstock Oaks Rugby Club |
| Pro:Direct Sports | Quickprint South West | Ray Allen |
| S & J Capper | Sandford Orchards | SanParks Transport Depot -Skukuza |
| Short Run Press | Sidmouth Cricket Club - Player Development Trust | The Dolphin Hotel, Exmouth |
| The Fencing Centre | The Foot & Gair Clinic | The Holt Bar and Terrace |
| The Pain Adventure Trust | The Treasury - Budleigh Salterton | Thomas Collier Photography |
| Tony Rowe | Tucker Ems Ltd | Uffculme Secondary School |
| Upton Coaches | WBW Solicitors | Welden & Edwards |
| West Buckland School | Wollens | WPA |
