NEWS & ENTRIES UPDATE....
New local entries continue to arrive. We expect to have 10+ local teams participating.
The confirmed local entries to date include:

• Belgrano Athletic and Rugby Club (host club)
• Hurling Club Spirit & Charm Juniors (35+)
• Hurling Club Spirit & Charm Seniors (46+)
• Los Bovinos Mercenarios (35+)
• Los Bovinos Mercenarios (46+)
• ORCAS de Olivos Rugby Club
• Pinguisaurios
• Torcuato XV

With less than 3 months to the opening of the Buenos Aires Carnival, we are on track for a final field of over 50 sides from 12 countries - Bahamas, Canada, Australia, South Africa, USA, Switzerland, England, Germany, Argentina, France, Russia and Ireland.

MEET ANOTHER THREE TEAMS COMING TO BUENOS AIRES …..
Meet another three teams coming to Buenos Aires who both continuously demonstrate their genuine love of veteran rugby and travel to all parts of the world to continue this enjoyment – the New York Vintage Whines (USA), Die alten Preussen (Germany) and the Cracked Conchs (Bermuda).

Veteran team leader and Vintage Rugby ambassador for the USA Geoff Andrews is a well known vet rugby player having been to many international events with his side.
Geoff told Vintage Rugby that the New York Vintage Whines International Touring Old Boys Rugby Team  was founded in 1995. The team is organized and operated exclusively to advance and foster the sport of rugby union through competition in Old Boys / Masters rugby games throughout the world. The team will be bringing a tour party of 43 to Buenos Aires. They are a Vintage Rugby Foundation team having being represented at the inaugural Limerick Carnival in 2004. They have an excellent website at www.newyorkrugby.com

In 1994, more than 20 rugby vets from Berlin and Brandenburg founded Die alten Preussen. The main reason for creating the team at that time was to participate in the 3rd European Golden Oldies Festival in Heidelberg, Germany later that year. As a result of that decision 12 years ago veteran rugby has become very popular with numbers increasing each year. The players like to travel and have played in veteran rugby events all around the world including New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, France and now Argentina. They have always supported the European Golden Oldies Festival and as well as playing in Heidelberg have also travelled to Verona (1996), Copenhagen (1998), Split (2002) and Zurich earlier this year. They have adopted as their playing motto – Fraternity, Friendship and Fun.

The Cracked Conchs was the name selected for the Bahamas over 35's team that attended the second Golden Oldies Rugby Festival in Long Beach California in 1981. (Conch, pronounced "conk" is the national dish of the Bahamas. The conch is a shell fish and the shell is 'cracked' to enable the conch to be cut out of the shell. Conch can be eaten raw, in salad, soup or deep fried).

Some 25 years later, members of that team are still active in Bahamian rugby and the likes of Bob Bease, Danny Lowe, Pops Burrows and Lenny Jones still tour and turn out for the Old Boys. Since then the "Conchs" have been the ambassadors of Bahamian Rugby having attended further Festivals in Sydney, London, Auckland, Dublin, Christchurch, Vancouver, Adelaide, Toulouse and San Diego last year. This year, with their biggest tour party of 34 they venture into new territory playing for the first time in a World Vintage Rugby Carnival. Truly international, in 2005 alone the Conchs played against teams from Australia, New Zealand, England, United States and the Czech Republic.

Although the Conchs are the official Old Boys team of the Bahamas the majority of the players are based in Nassau, Grand Bahamas, the other island in the Bahamas where rugby is played can now field a veterans side and it is hoped that a Freeport v Nassau Old Boys game will become a regular feature on the rugby calendar.

GWHO WILL BE THE OLDEST PLAYER IN BUENOS AIRES ?....
The question about who is the oldest player is one that is raised at every veteran rugby event. Age seems to hold a fascination for those who can only wish that they will still be playing and enjoying their favourite sport at such an age. And of course there is the tradition of a special award for the eldest player which teams use to honour that particular player. The oldest player at the 2004 Limerick Vintage Rugby Carnival was Peter Brandt aged 80 (left) a member of Diok Oude Meesters from The Netherlands.

The Diok Oude Meesters are not coming to Buenos Aires but the Evergreens from Vancouver will be there and we believe that their tour leader Roly Witt (below) at age 75 may be the oldest player at the Carnival.

Vintage Rugby caught up with Roly recently and asked him about his extraordinary rugby career and what Vintage Rugby means to him…..

I started playing rugby in 1939 at the age of 8 at Calday Grammar School at Wirral in England. After I left school I played for Caldy Rugby Club and then did two years in the army playing in Italy and Germany before emigrating to Canada in 1954 where I played in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. My first over-40 Veteran’s Rugby game was in 1971 for the Evergreen Rugby Club in Vancouver – and I’ve been playing ever since.

A career highlight has to be the occasion when I played for the WakSan against Glenfield Grizzles of New Zealand in the opening game of the London Golden Oldies at Twickenham, England, 1985. To play at “Twickers” was a dream come true! Packing behind a front row of 5’6” Japanese players, I probably saw the grass closer than any other lock forward!

As a Life Member of the WakWak RFC,the Mewaku of Japan and Old Birkonians, England and a past captain and president of the Evergreens I have promoted Vintage rugby whenever I could during tours of England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and the USA. Also toured with the San Francisco Senors to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. I was also fortunate to be selected to manage the Canadian National Team 1997-98 taking the team to Argentina twice, USA. Japan, Hong Kong and Ireland.


Many years ago I was introduced to Bob Weighill, Secretary of the England Rugby Union, who told me in no uncertain terms that over-40 Vintage rugby would never be played at Twickenham. Five years later, running down the ramp at Twickenham with the WakSan, where all players were greeted by Bob, he said to me: “Roly, what the hell are you doing here”? I replied: “I just wanted to prove you wrong!” Vintage rugby has grown in leaps and bounds since then.

Vintage rugby has created many friendships for me around the world. The unique camaraderie that seems only to be found in rugby has definitely kept me interested and involved in the game, along with thousands of others, who are also enjoying the game in their twilight years.

Whether Roly Witt is the oldest player remains to be seen. If your team has an older player coming to Buenos Aires please let us know .

ITS NOT TOO LATE TO ENTER !....
Although there is only 3 months to kick off and we have over 50 sides registered, its not too late to make that last minute decision to be in Buenos Aires. Accommodation may be tight but we will work with Sundance Spirit to ensure your team gets the best available. To avoid disappointment you should enter now ! >>.

The official Carnival brochure is available on request to the Vintage Rugby Office >>>  or you can download a copy directly from the website>>.

BUENOS AIRES BY NIGHT – YOUR GUIDE TO NIGHTLIFE AND DINING OUT.....
We asked Allan Falck for advice – Allan is a New Zealander now living in Argentina who with his wife Muriel owns and operates Sundance Spirit – the Carnival ground operator. Here are his thoughts …..

Let’s start off by being brutally frank. Anything planned for 7pm is considered an afternoon coffee break, so for those who are used to ´mum´ serving up dinner at 7.00pm, it's good to begin with a basic understanding of what you are in for as it relates to the Argentine idea of nightlife.

It’s fair to say then that Buenos Aires hardly ever sleeps. Theatre performances start at 9pm or 9:30pm; the last movie begins after midnight; nightclubs don't begin filling up until 2am or 3am. While some pubs open as early as 6pm, serious clubbing doesn't start before 2am, and frequently goes on until 6, 7am, or later. On Sundays, you can also find some after hours. Tango, too, gets going after midnight & never seems to stop.

Porteños as anyone who is a Buenos Aires native, born and raised is known as, never go early to discos -- they wouldn't want to be seen before 2am as it just doesn’t cut the mustard socially.

In fact, even if you wanted to go early, you might not be allowed in - "early evening" hours (meaning before midnight) are often reserved for teenagers and no one over 18 may be permitted to enter until after that time.

For the most part, Buenos Aires's dance clubs attract younger crowds. The best places to go out are in Las Cañitas, La Recoleta, Palermo & Costanera Norte.

The suburb of Palermo continues to be popular with the fashionable crowd, especially the areas of Las Cañitas & Palermo Hollywood which are packed with trendy bars, clubs & restaurants.

The streets surrounding La Recoleta Cemetery are also very popular, especially at the weekends when the pavement bars & cafés remain busy until the action moves to the nearby clubs.

A number of drinking options, including English and Irish pubs, exist on and around Calle Reconquista, Calle San Martin and Avenida 25 de Mayo, while San Telmo is a focal point for Bohemian bars and tango shows. The riverside area known as Puerto Madero which is very close to the city and adjacent to the Hilton Hotel. It too has become increasingly popular for sunset drinks & dining way into the wee hours. Nightlife is at its peak Thursday to Saturday but there’s always something happening throughout the week.

Bars and clubs offer a range of music and entertainment options to meet all tastes, from tango shows to techno nightclubs. Admission charges range from $10 to $45. Some clubs allow women free entry on certain nights or offer a ‘free’ drink as part of the admission charge. Cap off your night by going crazy at the Million nightclub in the Recoleta, where the city's finest women flock.

Moving on to a subject everybody is bound to be confronted by – dining out. Contrary to popular belief, there is far more to the cuisine of Buenos Aires than beef. In fact, Buenos Aires, as a world class city, has plenty of diversity in cuisine offerings and they are wonderful. Food quality is excellent, but be warned now, it is served late! A better restaurant won’t even think of opening its doors before 9 pm.

Generally people go to dinner 9:30 pm or later, especially in spring & summer, when it is common to arrive for dinner at 11 pm or even midnight. It is also not unusual for gringo tourists to be standing outside a restaurant at 9:00 pm waiting for it to open, although some of the more casual places, mainly cafes, tend to remain open round the clock. They may offer sandwiches, soups, or more substantial items, although it may not seem obvious & you might have to ask for a menu.

There is a way to deal with this schedule. Do as the locals do, and have a snack of some sort around 6:00pm. The major restaurants may not be open, but cafes are. Some people take a small sandwich, tea or just a coffee and pastry. This will at the very least get you through to the actual dinner hour.

Beef is indeed king and extremely reasonably priced, but there is great variety for everyone, even vegetarians. Salads are innovative and more than large enough for sharing, but note they are usually served with the meal, not before. What amazes most international visitors is how slender (as in stunning!) most Argentine women are despite all the beef, bread and ice cream they eat at such a late hour!

Al fresco dining is common in summer as the evenings usually cool off. But if it’s a warm evening, look for “clerico” as a beverage offering, so by all means, try it. It’s a local version of sangria made with white wine and very refreshing.

In the Recoleta there is no shortage of restaurants (Lola, Munich del Pilar, and plenty more side by side); a few blocks away is the elegant Teatriz (Riobamba 1220 near Arenales) for nouvelle cuisine. The famous Italian pizza restaurant, Los Immortales is also in Recoleta, but the original is on Corrientes in the theatre district.

The area around Avenida Corrientes and Calle Montevideo has several inexpensive but excellent restaurants like Pippo (open 24 hours) and Las Cañas (Montevideo 350) is particularly good.

As for a local ´vino´ Argentine wines are simply outstanding and right now they are among the best bargains in the world. High quality wines and champagnes are available at the supermarket or in liquor stores and prices don’t vary much. Anything ARS 8 pesos or more (about USD$3) is going to be quite drinkable, but something above ARS25 pesos is going to be absolutely remarkable.
The favorites are the red Malbecs & Syrahs, but there are now all kinds of blends as well.
You are going to enjoy nightlife in Buenos Aires !

JUST A REMINDER ABOUT A VERY SPECIAL OUTING.....
One of the specially created events during the week of the carnival will be the BIG DAY OUT which will be held on Thursday September 21.

To be staged about 125 km from the city in a glorious and historic setting close to the village of San Antonio de Areco at the famed Estancia La Cinacina, the BIG DAY OUT is set to deliver a fun-filled day of folklore, song, dance and gaucho tradition with displays of their supreme horse-riding skills.
The beer and wine will flow on arrival and be followed by a huge ‘asado’ (BBQ/braai) lunch accompanied by excellent Argentine wines, bottled water or soft drinks and featuring fresh salads, baked potatoes, lashings and lashings of all sorts of renowned Argentine beef cuts, pork, chicken and chorizos (hot sausage), finished off, for those who dare (or have the stamina) with a desert platter followed by tea and coffee.

Teams will be transferred by coach to the Estancia, departing hotels at approximately 0930 and returning downtown Buenos Aires by 1630, well in time to prepare for another night on the town.

The GREAT NEWS is that over 450 team members have already committed for the BIG DAY OUT for what will be a brilliant outing with old and new rugby friends.

The cost is USD$49 per person which has to be extraordinary value for money.

Space is strictly limited and places will be confirmed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Teams still considering the BIG DAY OUT should make a point of making a decision as soon as possible because to hesitate is to look disappointment squarely in the eye!

To register all you have to do is email Dianne McDermott at the World Vintage Rugby Office.

A POETIC TRIBUTE TO THIS GREAT GAME.....
This passionate poem about rugby by Rupert McCall (a long time player for Brothers in Brisbane) was thoughtfully provided by Geoff Phillips – a member of the Brisbane Budgies.

WHY WE PLAY THE GAME
By Rupert McCall

When the battle scars have faded And the truth becomes a lie And the weekend smell of liniment Could almost make you cry When the last ruck’s well behind you And the man that ran now walks It doesn’t matter who you are The mirror sometimes talks Have a good hard look old son! The melon’s not that great The snoz that takes a sharp turn sideways Used to be dead straight You’re an advert for arthritis You’re a thoroughbred gone lame Then you ask yourself the question Why the hell you played the game? Was there logic in the head knocks? In the corks and in the cuts? Did common sense get pushed aside By manliness and guts? Do you sometimes sit and wonder Why your time would often pass In a tangled mess of bodies With your head up someone’s arse? With a thumb hooked up your nostril Scratching gently on your brain And an overgrown Neanderthal Rejoicing in your pain! Mate - you must recall the jersey That was shredded into rags Then the soothing sting of Dettol On a back engraved with tags! It’s almost worth admitting Though with some degree of shame That your wife was right in asking Why the hell you played the game? Why you’d always rock home legless Like a cow on roller skates After drinking at the clubhouse With your low down drunken mates

Then you’d wake up - check your wallet Not a solitary coin Drink Berocca by the bucket Throw an ice pack on your groin Copping Sunday morning sermons About boozers being losers While you limped like Quazimoto With a half a thousand bruises! Yes - an urge to hug the porcelain And curse sambucca’s name Would always pose the question Why the hell you played the game! And yet with every wound re-opened As you grimly reminisce it Comes the most compelling feeling yet God, you bloody miss it! From the first time that you laced a boot And tightened every stud That virus known as ‘rugby’ Has been living in your blood When you dreamt it – when you played it All the rest took second fiddle Now you’re standing on the sideline But your heart’s still in the middle And no matter where you travel You can take it as expected There will always be a breed of people Hopelessly infected If there’s a teammate, then you’ll find him Like a gravitating force With a common understanding And a beer or three, of course And as you stand there telling lies Like it was yesterday old friend You’ll know that if you had the chance You’d do it all again You see - that’s the thing with rugby It will always be the same And that, I guarantee Is why the hell you played the game! AMEN

WANT VINTAGE RUGBY GEAR BUT NOT COMING TO BUENOS AIRES?.....
Vintage Rugby recently announced the appointment of Argie Sports as the Official Merchandising and Sponsorship Company for the 2006 World Vintage Rugby Carnival.

Argie Sports have designed and produced a range of Vintage Rugby souvenir items and clothing which will be available during the Carnival. For those who can't make it to Buenos Aires but would like to be able to buy Vintage Rugby gear, items are available now and can be viewed and ordered online at - www.argiesports.com  - click on the Vintage Rugby logo to view the range.

YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT ….
Take a look at the following photos and others in our UPDATED collection of the great sights of Argentina and Buenos Aires – all just waiting for you to see personally -
Image Gallery >>>.