Rugby fever is about to descend on soccer-crazed Argentina, with news that next year’s Vintage Rugby Carnival in Buenos Aires will be the biggest sporting event ever staged in the South American capital.

Already some 36 teams from 15 different countries have entered the week-long Carnival, which kicks off on September 17 next year.

With each team comprising an average of 30 players and supporters, numbers have reached more than 1100 and are rising daily.

The Buenos Aires Carnival ground organiser Allan Falck says the event – the second Rugby Carnival to be staged by Vintage Sports – will be the largest ever ´amateur´ sporting event held in Buenos Aires over a week and certainly the largest rugby event ever staged in Argentina;

“Obviously the Buenos Aires marathon has more entries, but that is a one day event. These Rugby players and supporters are coming for a whole week of games and associated activities."

“The interest is enormous, and with almost a year still to go, we believe it will grow even bigger before we get to kick off.”

The Vintage Carnival offers a men’s over-35 years category, and an over-46 years category. In addition, there is a women’s over-30 section. Entries have been received from traditional Rugby playing countries such as New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, England, Ireland, USA and Canada as well as Tanzania, Bahamas, Thailand, Switzerland, Morocco, Germany and Belgium. They boast an array of unusual team names such as St Mary’s Falling Stars (Ireland), False Bay Vets (South Africa), Pacific North West Old Growth (Canada) and South Africa’s Pirates Madalas (“Old Men”).

South Africa is the best represented country to date with eight confirmed entries.

Carnival Coordinator and Vintage Rugby Director Paul Gleeson of Auckland, New Zealand says all indications are that more international and South American entries are likely.

“Indeed, we are well on the way to our limit of 80 teams. We have developed an exciting programme of playing days and off-field activities which will make this event every bit as popular as our first Carnival in Limerick, Ireland in 2004.”

Mr Gleeson said Vintage Rugby’s soaring popularity was coming from the opportunity for mature sportsmen and women to travel to popular destinations in the name of Rugby -to meet new and old friends in a relaxing, social, non-competitive and well-organised environment which will deliver what they want from a Rugby experience.

Full details about the 2006 World Vintage Rugby Carnival are on the event website www.vintagerugby.com



For further information: Carnival Coordinator
Paul Gleeson
e-mail: paul@vintagerugby.com
64 9 522 1310

Carnival Rugby Director
Bryan O’Neill
e-mail: bryan008@eircom.net

353 862 561216