Meet ‘our face’ of the Buenos Aires Carnival....
Publicity material created so far to promote the Buenos Aires Carnival has one common feature – ‘our face’ of the carnival – Tony Winslade aged 58 caught midstride during his game with the New York Vintage Whines in Limerick last year. Tony’s image features on the website, the official carnival brochure, the e-mail newsletters and even accompanied the press release announcing carnival details – and it won’t end there.

So who is Tony Winslade and what is his rugby pedigree?

Tony is still playing non-vets and vets rugby in London for Old Isleworthians RFC (just up the road from Twickenham), where he has been a member for over 35 years – apart from 3 years in the mid 70’s when he played with the NY Vintage Whines – hence his presence in Limerick. Tony is an intrepid traveller. He’s toured with the Harlequinn Gentlemen for the past 12 years and thinks he holds some sort of record – he’s been on over 80 rugby tours. He describes his rugby position as anywhere in double figures – i.e 10 to 18.

His family is very much into rugby as well. His wife worked at one time in the famous New York rugby bar, the Mad Hatter, on the upper east side of Manhattan. His son is also a member of the same club.

When Tony retired in 2003 he told Vintage Rugby that he achieved a long-time ambition – to retire from work before retiring from playing rugby!

He continues to travel to at least one major rugby event each year. He was in Sydney when England won the 2003 World Cup and will be in New Zealand later this year for the British and Irish Lions Tour. Following on from the great time he had in Limerick Tony is already in training for the Buenos Aires Carnival in 2006.

One way or another we will be seeing a lot more of Tony …..

The best kept secret....
We make no apology for repeating the fact that Argentina offers fantastic value for your money. The value of your currency versus the Argentine Peso (within a few cents) has to be the best kept value for money secret on the global travel radarscope. Just consider …..

1 SA Rand = 0.50 ARS Pesos
1 NZ Dollar = 2.10 ARS Pesos
1 AUS Dollar = 2.25 ARS Pesos
1 CAD Dollar = 2.40 ARS Pesos
1 USD = 3.00 ARS Pesos
1 EURO = 4.00 ARS Pesos
1 UK Pound = 5.50 ARS Pesos

A one litre bottle of beer costs ARS2.50.
A 750ml bottle of glorious Malbec red wine cost no more than ARS15.
A 6km taxi ride costs ARS 8 including the tip.
A pair of exceptional hand-stitched men’s leather shoes costs no more than USD75.
Women’s fashion shoes run from USD20 upwards, but to pay USD50 will deliver exquisite quality.
Hand-tailored leather jackets, custom designed leather trousers, vests, full length kid-glove leather coats and bags, all at a fraction of the price you’d pay at home.

Host clubs prepare to welcome Vintage Rugby teams to Buenos Aires....
Games will be played at two well known local clubs – Belgrano Athletic and Club San Patricio. Both clubs have excellent hospitality facilities and 12 good fields. The clubs are almost within walking distance of each other. It may be of interest to note that Belgrano Athletic was the co-founding club for Rugby Union in Argentina in 1896.

Click this image for a panoramic view of the fields.
 

 
Meet the Sundance Spirit Team....
Sundance Spirit , an experienced and well known in-bound Tour Operator in Buenos Aires, has been selected as the Carnival Ground Operator for the 2006 Carnival. This appointment was announced recently following a review of the three bids received.

Sundance Spirit will be responsible for team accommodation, transfers, transport, the opening ceremony and cocktail function, the final Gala Dinner and additional sightseeing and pre or post Carnival touring options, for what is guaranteed to be a superb week of fun and renewed friendships on and off the playing fields.

With a staff of fourteen highly enthusiastic tourism professionals and the capability to communicate in fluent English, French, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, the Carnival organizers are sure they have selected the right company to deliver a very successful event.

The appointment was recently announced to the Sundance staff amid great celebrations and later to the news media – To read the Press Release >>

From here and there....
Full details about the 2006 Carnival were released to the international rugby media on April 14. You can read the press release  – You can read the Press Release>>

Veteran rugby writer Dan Santoro recently reported in his column in US Rugby about a new Yahoo e-group called World Masters Rugby – it’s a free bulletin board that is a great way to keep your team members advised about the club’s activities and upcoming vet rugby events. Want to join up ? All you have to do is go to http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/worldmastersrugby/  and sign in.

Over 40 South African teams at the National Golden Oldies Festival staged in Port Elizabeth were recently presented with all the details about the Buenos Aires Carnival. Allan Falck from Sundance Spirit addressed the group and distributed promotional material.

Pictures of Argentina....
It is said that a picture represents a thousand words. Take a look at the following photos and others in our collection of the great sights of Argentina and Buenos Aires – breath taking - Look Here>>>

Finally....
We will keep you updated about Vintage Rugby and the 2006 World Vintage Rugby Carnival in Buenos Aires….

Your next issue of the Vintage Rugby update will be sent next month and will feature more exciting news and views about Buenos Aires 2006.