Ireland's Civil Service CC ended their 2002 season a month later then usual, when they embarked on their first overseas tour in October. They travelled to Spain to play two matches against Sporting Alfas CC, based in Alfas del Pi near Alicante and Benidorm, who will again host the European Academy in 2003.

The club, founded in 1995, hosts an average of 190 fixtures each year, and is visited by teams from all over Europe, including several English County sides who take advantage of the long season and visit in February and March. Civil Service were lucky to enjoy two very close matches against Alfas (winning one and losing one) and perfect weather for the week.

They have vowed to return ñ probably in 2004, as the club are invited to visit Denmark next summer (having hosted them this year in Dublin). The "Services" are going global - the days of tours to Lurgan and Wexford are a thing of the past!