IT WAS another weekend of success for the boys of the Downs Rugby senior representative side, when they won their second and final game in Japan against the Kanagawa Barbarians in Tokyo on Saturday.

Despite the half-time score favouring Kanagawa 14-10, the Downs side was strong, managing to snatch back the lead and seal the game in the final minutes, finishing with a score of 32-26.

Downs Rugby general manager Mitchell Simpson said the Japan tour was a great opportunity to expand the team's calibre.

"It's been excellent,” he said.

"Obviously the ability to play on tour is something we hope the boys can take with them beyond just Japan and use for years to come.

"The boys that went away will be able to take their skills back to the local clubs they play on, which is great.

"The boys all got a lot out of this trip and had a great time and I'm sure they're very happy to come home sosuccessful.”

This was the second international tour the Downs Rugby representative side has been on, the first being a New Zealand tour in 2014.

"We decided it was time to do another senior tour and given that it went so well, we're probably looking to do one every two to three years,” Simpson said.

"Doing a tour every few years gives the opportunity for new players to come into the squad and give their fresh talents to the group.”

One of the Dalby boys who took part in the tour, Daniel Merker, said the opportunity to play in Japan was amazing.

"Everyone was feeling so excited before the games, just for the fact it was an international rugby match against the Japanese,” Merker said.

"This is really something only a few footballers can say they've done.”

A sub-committee of volunteers, including club members, parents and former referees, were in charge of organising the trip.

The Japan tour was sponsored by a number of local individuals and businesses, including a number of grain farmers around the region who organised a grain drive, and Simpson said each donated some of their yield to support the boys.

"We couldn't have done it without the sponsors,” Simpson said.

The Downs Rugby representative side will have three weeks to recover and beat the jet lag before their next representative fixture in Moree on March 11.