Total Sports Tours NZ

23/09/2024

I have been in Auckland for over a week feeling a bit trapped in a small hotel room. A week of rain and grey hasn’t helped. With the sun finally out on Saturday it was a good time to get away from the stark CBD and find a beach somewhere. Long Bay Regional Park popped up on google. And what a delight it was. Close by was Whangaparoa, a place I’d heard of many times. The Bledisloe Test was about 2 hours away. Pizza and a drive down to Big Manly Beach took care of most of that. According to virtual sources the closest sports bar was The Crows Nest, just a short drive away. It was here we settled in, amongst the locals, who turned up en masse just before kickoff. I said to my son at half time, it’s going to be a 50-pointer. Well, it certainly wasn’t! It came close to being one of the greatest Aussie comebacks of all time.

Don’t you just love that about sport. I thought it was a hugely entertaining game and a great advertisement for rugby. I expect many of the 70 odd thousand watching it live concurred. There’s nothing better than a close contest that takes you to the edge of your seat, or bar stool in this case.

19/09/2024

Are you a sports coach or a teacher?

Are you looking for a way to increase engagement with your teams?

Do you want to give them the benefit of high level coaching, unforgettable overseas and cultural experiences and an opportunity to travel?

Did you know that Total Sports Tours have a selection of incredible outbound tours available for 2026? Jaw-dropping locations such as Argentina, Canada, Sri Lanka and Japan are just waiting for you to visit, giving your teams skills, knowledge and memories that will last forever.

CONTACT Phil by email at [email protected] now to discuss how these tours can work for you and your teams.

17/09/2024

Do you have a teen who is crazy about sport? Have you thought about giving them the opportunity to play their sport at a high level and travel the world? With Total Sports Tours high level coaching, safe travel and amazing cultural experiences are all part of the package.

Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean and shares a maritime border with the Maldives in the southwest and India in the northwest. The country is full of rich and fascinating history, beautiful natural features and wonderfully hospitable inhabitants. Cricket is the main sport in Sri Lanka, with volleyball being the national game. Rugby is also a signifcant sport and dates back to 1879.It is the second largest rugby-playing nation in Asia, behind Japan.

Fly Auckland direct to Colombo and enjoy 12 days of luxury accommodation, cultural experiences, wildlife encounters and sport (cricket, basketball, rugby, volleyball).

https://www.totaltours.nz/outbound-tours/sri-lanka

15/09/2024

My son is a soccer fan, (although I am supposed to say football, not soccer). His beloved team Liverpool had their first loss of the season on the weekend. While talking about this it reminded me of a Netflix movie I had watched recently called: The Beautiful Game. It’s about the Homeless World Cup football tournament. Bill Nighy stars and carries it as only he can do. My son had never heard of it. It’s been going since 2003. There are 68 member countries and it has positively impacted 1.2 million homeless people. My son was impressed and it doubly confirmed to him that soccer (football) really is the ‘Beautiful Game’.

Just one example amongst many sports and activities that can create positive change in people’s lives.

13/09/2024

Enough said…

12/09/2024

Rugby players are tough….until they get the flu
TRUE or FALSE??
😂

09/09/2024

All Blacks Vs Springboks Round 2. I try not to have too much focus on rugby, but I can’t help it this weekend. Watching the 2nd Springbok test early on Sunday morning I couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible physicality and intensity of this test match. It was enthralling to say the least. To lose again was a tough swallow, but what a game. I thought is was a true spectacle: from the massive airliner flyover just before kickoff, to the crowd that bayed and howled continuously, to the massive collisions and, at the other end of the spectrum, the deftness and poise of the ball handling, and the heroics of both sides on defence. I found myself twisting out of shape with the movements of the ball, it was truly engrossing. Shame we lost though - bu**er!

06/09/2024

A heart warming and beautiful advert showing the wonder of sport. At Total Sports Tours we want all our young athletes to feel this supported and joyful.

Happy Saturday!

01/09/2024

It was Father’s Day in New Zealand on Sunday. Like many dads here I suspect it started early with either a 3am live watch or a 6pm delayed broadcast of the South Africa Vs All Blacks match. It was a great game. A real humdinger of a test match, with the game being played at a frenetic pace and with quality of the highest order. There was so much to like about it, except, for Kiwis, where the 10 point lead was whittled down over the last 20 minutes to end in a loss. The yellow card to prop Ofa Tu’ungafasia with 10 to go was the coffin nail really. Flashbacks to the RWC final last year . . . yeah, nah. It was another stinging loss to a mighty foe. Good to see the Wallabies get a win though.

Better still was the hug from my kids and a Happy Father’s Day cake of chocolate later in the morning.

Phil

27/08/2024

Sport is unique.

It has the ability to change the attitudes, hearts and minds of people. The power to bring countries together in pursuit and celebration of one goal. To overcome politics, race, racism, war, cultures and class.

There are not many things that can do this. Think of all the sporting moments throughout history that have changed the way we see the world, each other and the power of being human. Not just the wins and successes, but the pride in the face of failure, or knowing when to quit like Simone Biles despite great criticism, and then returning on your own terms to even greater success.

Playing a small part in developing the players of the future is why we do what we do at Total Sports Tours. We would love to talk to you more about how we can help your future sports stars grow, see the world and maybe change it.

25/08/2024

Dear Sport Lovers,
There was a short piece on the news last night about an 91 year old competing in a power lifting competition. What a character! He approaches the bench with his walker and lies on his back to take on the bench press. In the news interview he talked about his back operation and who he has difficulty walking, then states with a laugh, ‘but it doesn’t stop me laying down’. Gotta admire that. Not everyone is lucky enough to have the wherewithal to be involved in sport in their 90’s.

My own Dad is 92 and pretty much confined to an armchair these days. He was an active tradesman for much of his life and then just wound the movement down over the years. There’s plenty of research that recommends activity as the panacea for so many ailments, including old age.

Play sport for ever - amen.

Phil Robson

22/08/2024

Friday Funny

Not really sure what the weather is doing this weekend?

No we aren’t either, but we wish all athletes and sports people a successful weekend!

21/08/2024

World Rugby has announced three new rules for domestic and international rugby.

What are your thoughts?

19/08/2024

Dear Sports lovers,
The Olympics are over for another 4 years. It’s been a week now since the closing ceremony. I can still recall the names of many of our medal winners and I think NZ was 11th on the table. I know I will have trouble remembering names and rankings in a few months and in a year or so, as much as I will be able to say it, it was NZ’s best Olympics ever.
Each sports programme that had athletes competing totalled in funding around $85 million. A decent whack of money. Money well spent? It will depend on how your cost benefit analysis is constructed. As much as I can say, I felt proud of the Kiwi’s performing, all of them. I have no doubt they represented NZ with pride and nobility on the world stage. I think we did pretty darn well for a small isolated country. I am sure that feeling was shared by many other New Zealanders and will serve up large dollops of motivation and inspiration in sports and many other pursuits in the years ahead.

Go you Kiwis!

Phil Robson
Total Sports Tours

17/08/2024

In todays climate, a business lives and dies by its reviews. A series of bad reviews will definitely influence how prospective customers engage with a business. They simply won’t engage!

At Total Sports Tours we have never worried about this. We are proud of our reviews and encourage you to read them. Our Google rating is 5* and we put our all into maintaining this. This means our tours, your young people, our coaches and mentors and our destinations are treated with the utmost respect and care. Fun and safety work hand in hand. Learning and growth are our foundations.

Read our reviews.
Then come find out what they are talking about.
We would love to show you what we can do for your sports people!

15/08/2024

These happy faces are what the team at Total Sports Tours live for! These kids are not just happy, they are engaged, excited, inspired and present. Their phones are forgotten and through the power of their team they learnt what is truly important.

But this photograph is important because it is not a photo of them celebrating a win. They lost!

Kids can learn that there is more to sport and life than winning. Losing brings learning, growth and resilience and that is what your child needs to be successful.
They will get all that and more from a Total Sports Tour, whether they win or lose!

Join us at www.totaltours.nz to find out more.

11/08/2024

It’s sometimes worth pausing over weekends like this and giving yourself a minute to catch your breath and go, wow! Ain’t sport great. It just has a way of capturing the qualities of the human spirit that perhaps may not be captured in any other way.
For us rugby heads it was a smorgasbord. It started for me with a sideline view of the Christchurch Boys’ High School 1st XV over the old foe Christs College for a shot at the title next weekend. Then the last few minutes of the 1st round of the NPC with Canterbury taking care of Northland courtesy of endless data and my iPhone. Back home to the flat screen to watch the second half of the Wallabies Vs South African (a bit of a rout unfortunately) and then 10 minutes later we are into the AB’s Vs the Pumas. Not a rout for the Kiwis, but another win for the Pumas, who were clinical and fully committed to everything. And who ever heard of an international rugby game that went for 60 minutes before a scrum was set!
Waking to Sunday morning here in Aotearoa with news of the country’s best 1 day medal haul ever. Nerve jangling, spine tingling, heart wrenching, tear jerking, hair raising; sport encompasses them all. It’s good to be alive!

Phil Robson

05/08/2024

“What a week of sport! The Olympic Games are such an amazing spectacle. It is impossible not to get caught up in the elation and despair of the competing athletes as they sometimes win or lose by centimetres. Years of training for this one moment. It is hard to comprehend how difficult it is to win a medal at this level and the athletes capacity to perform in the most remarkable ways is truly inspiring. So many athletes, so few medals! A poignant reminder of also acknowledging the power of the journey, and not just the concluding glory of a place on the podium”

Phil Robson

Rowers Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis

01/08/2024

Are you a parent or a coach thinking of sending your young athletes off on an overseas tour?

Tune in next week as we give you our Total Sports Tours Tips and Tricks on how to prepare your teen for travel alone.

31/07/2024

A hump day funny for you.

29/07/2024

Untitled -

At Total Sports Tours we have twenty years of experience creating unforgettable sports tour experiences. We make your life easier by doing the hard work, giving you time to focus on your teams and taking all the stress out of organisation and ex*****on.

29/07/2024

At a time when conflict, violence and lunacy takes care of the first half hour of the news, the distraction of the Olympic games during the sports section offers a welcomed different story.
I find the Games somewhat extravagant and excessive in many ways, but at least the world is coming together and having fun! It’s a true global event on a macro scale.

Back in the micro arena were the two Christchurch premier clubs battling it out for the Championship honours at Rugby Park Sunday afternoon. A wonderful game, played in fierce spirit watched by a raucous but respectful crowd. There was flag waving singing and chanting. My old club, University was one of the contenders, but unfortunately not the victor. I sat with the Maugers, Nathan and brother Aaron, both keen Linwood men and great former All Blacks. I bumped into past All Black captain Kieran Reed in the street outside. Reedo is a Varsity man. We offered commiserations. Thinking about this wonderful occasion, I’m not sure what else we have as a society, locally and globally that has the capacity to bring us together when it feels like we are falling apart. Thank heavens for sport.

Phil Robson

24/07/2024

Getting to spend time with your sporting heroes, getting close to icons who give your dreams wings and touching the trophies that inspire you, are all part of a Total Sports Tour experience.

We have close connections with the sporting world through our founder, Phil Robson. He rubs shoulders with the all-time greats and the young bloods rising up the ranks.

Come meet them with Total Sports Tours!

21/07/2024

Phil’s Phil-osophy to start the week…

For All Black supporters there was a bit to celebrate on the weekend after they disposed of Fiji in San Diego 47-5. It was a good game to watch; flowing, open, physical rugby. A favourite moment for me was to watch newbie George Bell take the field in the AB jersey for the first time. George has been with the Crusaders for a couple of years. In 2023 I rang him on the morning of the final Matches Festival day to see if he would present the trophy for the Te Waka Humarie award. It was bye week for the Crusaders and most players had left town for a break. George had stuck around and, seeing as I had never met him before, nor had he much of an idea of what the festival was about, I was delighted when he said yes. He turned up and did a fantastic job. Now he is an All Black and likely to stay one for quite a few years.
Cheers George - you never know what honours await.

Phil Robson

18/07/2024

Another tour from the US has a great experience with Total Sports Tours and leaves happy.

Thanks for the review - we cannot wait to host you again in our beautiful country!

15/07/2024

With a bit of time to reflect on the weekends All Blacks game what are your thoughts? Happy? Disappointed? Frustrated? Relieved?

Here is Phil Robson’s view….tell us yours in the comments.

How much of the pressure the AB’s were under on the weekend came from the previous run of 48 victories at Eden Park? Being the first team to lose there in 30 years would carry some weight. A distraction hard to avoid. It may have accounted in some part for the nervous and creaky display from the All Blacks against England. Keeping a calm head and maintaining your composure is paramount in tight games. Coach Robertson is a master at installing this into his teams (despite the fact that he looks like a nervous wreck in the coaching box!). Captain, Scott Barrett doesn’t have the best record for avoidable indiscretions, but he and his teammates would have gained a massive amount of self-belief and self-assurance from the last two weekends, no doubt tempered by the acknowledgment that there is still a lot to improve on.

The two teams will meet again in November with a situation reversal: this time the AB’s will be battered at the end of their season, while the English will be rested and primed. Bring it on!

15/07/2024

I have been pondering winning and losing this weekend. This was brought on by witnessing the despair of the West Lions U13 from Canberra losing a game against Kaikoura RFC by 3 points after staging a pretty gutsy comeback. These little guys gave their all, and so badly wanted to win their last game on tour. Tears were shed at the end by quite a few. I can be hugely disappointing to lose. I have had my fair share as coach and player. The English will be feeling it too after going down again on Sat night at Eden Park. They were close, and had the chance to end a 30 year winning record at Eden Park. I might go as far to say they were unlucky - they played very well. I didn’t see any tears of course, although watching the U13’s overflow with emotion I was reminded that adults are not immune to a few tears after a loss. Think of All Black Jordie Barrett after the RWC final last year. At the end of the day it’s just the score that let you down. Each game is full of wins and losses. Feel the pain of the losing score, but celebrate all the mighty wins across the game, whether it be superb tackles, opposition lineouts won, brilliant backline moves, etc. etc. There’s always plenty to celebrate beyond the ultimate result.

That is worth remembering . . . when the score doesn’t go your way.

Phil Robson

13/07/2024

Another close one! Great results for the All Blacks.

Tomorrow Phil’s Philosophy will unpack the game. Stay tuned.

13/07/2024

I was interested to read in today’s paper that the number of basketballs imported into NZ has risen significantly in recent times, now outdoing rugby by close to 100K per year. This could be accounted for through a number of factors, but there is certainly no doubting that basketball is increasing in popularity.

Whatever the sport or code, let’s just support kids getting onto the field or court and staying active. I’ve watched 11 year old Aussi kids play rugby here in Chch this week. Ex All Black and local rugby legend Ryan Crotty visited them in the changing sheds before their game to wish them luck. What a moment! His rugby compatriots take to the field for round 2 against the English tonight. Donning the Black jersey offers a degree of immortality in the rugby world, and relaying some key All Black messages with a nervous group of expectant kids offers a small insight into the power of sport, whatever the code.

Phil Robson
Total Sports Tours