TEENAGE rugby players have vowed to boldly go where no other side like theirs has.

When they board a flight bound for Belgrade tomorrow, Thursday, Knutsford’s under 17s believe they will become the first English team to play a match in Serbia.

They are scheduled to play a friendly with TrimTrab, one of only 17 rugby union clubs in the country.

“A rugby league side has been there, but I can’t find a union one,” said tour co-ordinator Steve Davies.

That alone did not whet the young Blues’ appetite to travel.

Davies told the Guardian their hosts have ‘moved heaven and earth’ to accommodate their guests for the three-day trip.

“They contacted us,” he said.

“The guy in charge there has been so responsive, and he’s running a team that is very similar to ours.

“Since we showed interest, they’ve been bending over backwards to make the date work as we could only go this weekend due to having league games to fit in.

“Some of the parents of our players were a bit surprised when we told them we were planning to go to Serbia, but they’ve been supportive.”

Davies admits he, along with the 17 players and 11 other adults travelling together, does not know what to expect on what will be their sixth international trip.

He added: “It’s a bit of a mystery when you go on tour.

“We’ve visited Holland in the past, winning one game easily but the second was tough. The beauty of touring is you have no idea what you are going to face.

“We don’t travel with high expectations; the lads are tired, they stay up late and have been travelling so it’s more about enjoying the experience and spending time together.

“They know each other pretty well, but they’re at different schools.”

And the club hope there will be long-term benefits too.

The under 17s team is the first to represent Knutsford in the North West Colts League, winning four of their first five matches.

That sequence includes a 14-7 win against Didsbury Toc-H at the weekend.

Max Davies scythed through the visitors’ defence to restore parity, skipper Fergus Grieves’ conversion making it 7-7.

Blues then protected a lead given to them by scrum half Luke Shaw’s try, again converted by Grieves, during a close encounter’s final moments.

“They’re a committed bunch of lads who train together every Tuesday and Friday,” said Davies.

“Some join in with the seniors on a Thursday too.

“The first team has been incredible; they come down to watch our boys play, while some help out with coaching.

“We need to find a balance, and to make sure they’re physically ready to step up.

“For now, performing on a Sunday morning is most important.

“We’re lucky the squad has grown to 30 players at a time when lots of clubs nearby are struggling for numbers – it’s an achievement to have kept the group together for so long.”