The tours the Gladiators have taken since 1997 have been recorded in the diaries of Frank Dike. Visit the links below to read extracts from these diaries.

Chablis 1997 Lisbon 1998 Amsterdam 1999 Cardiff 2000 Bucharest 2000 Riga 2001 Barcelona 2002 Warsaw 2003 Tallinn 2004 coming soon, hopefully

Friday
We arrived at Chablis on Friday evening around 10.30pm. We were all very weary. We had got lost around Paris so Nigel and Tim had to ask for directions at a garage. Spasmodic singing on the bus kept us going.

Saturday
The morning was spent wine-tasting followed by lunch at Bar de la Poste with several of the Chablis team. We had a game in the afternoon followed by more wine-tasting. There was further movement in Steve's van to Wayside Café where we ate in style with the Chablis team. There was a lot of singing. At one point during the evening members of both teams were dancing on the tables. Mac missed everything sleeping in Steve's van.

Sunday
Nigel and I went for a wonderful walk through the market. Nigel bought garlic, cheese and sausages to take home. We shared a punnet of strawberries and wandered around Chablis. We were due to meet the rest of the team at noon but most people were late. Nigel and I found a café and sat drinking cognac and coffee in the sunshine. Eventually everyone turned up. Tom and I played table football against Russel and Ziggy.

In the afternoon we went wine-tasting. Everyone, except Ray who was left sleeping on the bus, behaved well. We were fortunate that Steve Bowden had some knowledge and advised us on the differing tastes and years. We were soon discussing the flavours: the oakiness, the fruitiness, how peppery etc. I even heard someone say that they could make out a hint of grapefruit. Our visit ended well with most of our party singing whilst standing on a plinth at one end of the hall. We were led by Mr LeGrice. The singing was not our best but it was reasonably well received with a smattering of applause.

The Game
The captain, in what is becoming a tradition, addressed the team before the match. There was a hushed awe as his words reverberated around the changing room and seeped into the soul of each player. As only the captain can, he lifted us from the depths of alcoholic stupor to the heights of gladiatorial spirit, bonding the hearts and minds into one spirit capable of overcoming all adversity. And so he led us into battle.

The full meaning of the captains words did not surface at once and the Portuguese scored. Due to the excitement I have forgotten who scored next but suffice to say that the half time score was 14-7 to Lisbon. A double B change at half time gave a small cup of strength to the forwards. For 20 minutes Dorchester was magnificent. Andrews, Johnson and Bowden relentlessly drove forwards. The ubiquitous Jones, N. was able to draw on his deep reserve of strength and stamina to reach the heights of his previously greatest game in Chablis. The front row of LeGrice, Wilkins C. and Ken Pitcher were awesome as they wore down the opposition. Their courageous performance allowed Julius Longman to score the equalizing try. A breath-taking draw. It was a privilege to have been a part of what will become Gladiator folklore.

Saturday
Nigel is a most amenable travelling companion and as we ambled around Amsterdam he told amusing anecdotes, found various excellent coffee shops and, most impressively, took us round in a large circle, eventually taking us back to where we started. It was all most pleasant. The only cloud over the morning was the thought of playing a game. I have said before that playing rugby on tour is a foolish, unnecessary thing to do. Russel Dunn please listen to me.

The Game
The size of the opposition at first alarmed but then increased the Gladiators' resolve. The play commenced scrappily at first with both sides testing the strength of their opponents. The Gladiators were driven back in the first scrummage. This was to be the only time. With Ken Pitcher, rock-like at tight head, the Dorchester front row took control. Two early breaks, first by Longman and next by Taylor were only foiled by eccentric refereeing decisions. Then Longman, running straight, received the ball after a superb back row play and tore through the Dutch defense to touchdown midway between posts and corner flag. The score was now 5-0.

The next try followed quickly. Slick handling by the back row enabled Ben Sennett to angle his burst from the wing perfectly to cross the line for his first international try. Magnificent! Holland momentarily got the upper-hand and converted a well worked try. Half time came as Julius Longman kicked a penalty. The score was now 15-7. The second half substitutions added speed to the second row and age to the back row. Yet the Dutch scored next; 15-14 and all to play for. LeGrice took control of his team, persuading and encouraging the players to rise to the challenge. The back row was magnificent. The pressure was relentless. First Ed Taylor and then Julius Longman scored scorching tries and a penalty, slotted perfectly between the posts, left the final score 28-14. The wonderful record of the Gladiators never having lost on foreign soil was continued.

The Game
In the foyer the captain tries to be serious. Are we all here? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. What a terribly good organizer our captain is! The game turned out to be great fun. Refereed with authority and knowledge, and played with great heart. All performed with credit and some with distinction. The tries were scored by Mark Andrews and Ed Taylor. The final score was 33-15 to the Glads.

The Reception
The St Peter's clubhouse was very pleasant and they were agreeable hosts. It was Brains beer, but the 30 years since I swore never to drink the stuff again has improved it and I found myself enjoying it. The draw was held while we were eating tea so I shall never know whether I had the winning ticket or not. Rod at long last appeared to realize that this was actually his stag night and was encouraged to drink several ½ yards of ale. Steve suggested that he should go for a 100 metres but the change from imperial to metric was too much for many of us.

The Gladiators, due to errors in translation, played against the Romanian national team in a match that was broadcast live on Romanian television. The team was subsequently invited to feature on ITV's This Morning with presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan.

Saturday
 We left the ground having had a few beers at a mini reception. Video cameras were there. We would, apparently, feature on the evening sporting news. Harry Brewer was interviewed. Ray Kershaw, I don't believe I am writing this, but Ray Kershaw was interviewed. Actually Ray had scored a super try. He gathered the ball and ran straight. He shrugged off the first tackle, kept running; the second tackle came in, he looked to pass, no help was forthcoming. He did a three-quarter turn still looking for help. The dummy that had been more accident than design fooled the defence and Ray dashed in. It was a most popular try. The crowd, that was considerable, cheered loudly. It was later rumoured that 5 or 6 of the side that we played against would be playing against France in a fully fledged international within the next few weeks.

Sunday
At breakfast all agreed it had been a good day. Deeds of the game were recounted, enhanced and even invented. Dave Johnston said we were on the television. Apparently there were some shots of the game and many shots of Ray's tattoos.

Later that day, I was sitting in the lobby when the hotel manager came across to chat. He asked if I had played rugby yesterday. When I said yes he raised his eyes in amazement and fetched several of his colleagues. They came across the lobby to inspect me. There was much shoulder shrugging and hand waving and then they wandered off. The manager lingered and suggested that it was now only a hobby for me as I was so old. I tried to tell him that it had always been a hobby but he wouldn't accept it. He was convinced that I had been a professional. The only time I have ever felt as good as that moment was when I had been mistaken for an All Black while in Bermuda at the time of the Golden Oldies competition.

And so we went home. Little did we know what was to come. Fame, notoriety, call it what you will but we are now the most well known third team in the world.

This Morning
And so tour II began. We met at Dorchester South Station. There were Brian Eadie, Tim Bowden, Steve Edmonds, Mark Andrews, Ben Sennett, Rod Thomas, Dave Scadden, Tony Foot, Ray Kershaw, Dave Johnson and Frank Dike.

We were unsure who the presenters were going to be. Last week it had been Fern Britton. I must say I hoped it would be Fern. She had made Gus Honeybun do five bunny hops for Tom on his fifth birthday.

There was much ribaldry on the train. Rod and Mark had brought 52 pints. We visited the smoking room and I spent 10 minutes explaining to a lady that Ray was homeless. She let me chat away and then said that she was from Dorchester and Ray's reputation had preceded him.

At the studios, everyone was calm and collected and Ray was well behaved. It was all extremely professional. Everyone was kind and considerate, and although the room was hot we were all comfy. A bar had been set up in the studio and we were filmed drinking, standing with ball and scrummaging. Several takes later and the floor manager had said fantastic 24 times. Ray scrummaged without his teeth. Taken out of his usual context, he is fairly fearsome and rather ugly, but I suppose quite loveable.

Great news, they want four of us for a fashion show. All those with jacket and tie get on. I have both, Hooray! Ray magics a jacket from somewhere. How does he do it?

Perhaps I am star struck. In fact there is no question I am definitely star struck. Richard gave me his autograph. He was very pleasant but Judy was fabulous. I sat next to her drooling. She gave me her autograph and three kisses. It was all wonderful.

The Game
There was a great deal of will to win but Latvia were younger and quicker than us. Rob Hill was given man of the match. He put in some wonderful tackles, but we all played to the best of our abilities and because of this enjoyed the banter afterwards. The score was 57-3. the 3 points being a penalty by Adam Thomas. Unlike last year the opponents knew they had been in a game.

The Reception
Many speeches were made. Tim, Harry and Nigel spoke through an interpreter. It all went very well. I was presented with a mug for being the oldest player. My abiding memory of the evening will be being kissed and hugged by a large Russian. He had been captain and No. 8 of Latvia for many years. When he could no longer play for Latvia he took up the piano and is now an accomplished player. If, as happened often, he could not find the words he would hug and kiss me.

The Journey
The journey was uneventful or rather there was no catastrophy. Ron did not crash, Dave Scadden did not fall out; to say it was uneventful was wrong as it was made up with doses of small events that made the whole an absolute delight. There was the constant banter of Steve Edmonds, the less subtle repartee of Ray Kershaw and in depth discussion with Dave Johnson. Add to this, Tim Bowden telling us a very old joke for the 3rd or 4th time, which, as before, we found screamingly funny.

Saturday
We sat in the cathedral square. The sun was shining, the beer was cool and the architecture was easy on the eye. It was a good couple of hours. We were due to meet at Jazz at 12.30pm for tapas and beer, but half the side were missing. Tom Dike was sent to find them but was not seen again.

We took a coach to Santa Boa to watch Santa Boa play Milan. It was a good game. A fairly high standard and a win for the home side. Then we went back on the coach to head for our own game at the Olympic area of Barcelona. It was an enjoyable game, played in just the right spirit and narrowly won by the home side. Then the evening was spent in the city. There was much singing. Richard Binning, a man of many talents, turned out to be a songster; and together with Harry Brewer, helped Mark Andrews through a medley of songs both ancient and modern.

Saturday
After breakfast, a cultural tour was discussed but in the end we settled for a ride in horse and carriage. It was a delight. The party met at a bar next to our hotel. It was agreed by all except Russel, that we did not want to play. Russel wanted to play but the captain said he could not.

The Game
Harry was nominated as the referee. This, I hoped would ensure an away win, the question was by how many. The first half ended 0-0. The breakthrough came early in the second half with Mark Andrews touching down in the left corner. Rob Pinney, sensing that we had enough points, missed the conversion with some ease. The Gladiators, now in the ascendancy, swept forward time and time again. The opposition did have one chance to score but this was easily dealt with by a Richard Binning foot. As the winger was about to touchdown, Richard casually flicked the ball from his grasp. The last scrum of the game was taken against the head by Tim Bowden. Tim Waterfield kicked to touch and Harry blew the whistle. The Glads had won 5-0. It was the first tour win for four years. The captain was very happy and so were the rest of us. We were indeed a superb side, worthy winners and thoroughly nice people.

The Reception
All the Warsaw team were friendly and pleasant and took the meaning of being hosts seriously. Conversation was loud and animated. Ties, shirts and shields were swapped in ceremony. Ed and Harry gave speeches. Later there was singing, not to a high standard, but the volume was excellent.