• With only 12 months to go the Buenos Aires Carnival has already attracted 31 entries from 14 countries - Tanzania, Bahamas, Canada, Australia, Morocco, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, Thailand, Switzerland, England, Germany, Argentina and Ireland. Our last newsletter resulted in a rush of entries including Pacific North West Old Growth (Canada), the Washington Poltroons (USA), Die alten Preusen from Berlin (Germany), the All Black Snails (Belgium) and our first Argentina entry, ORCAS from Buenos Aires. You will gradually meet all these teams in future newsletters.
   
• Recently we began to have fears for the safety of Battleship Old Boys RFC one of our most loyal Vintage Rugby teams who reside in Mobile – one of the cities worst hit by Hurricane Katrina. Mobile featured every night on the TV news and the devastation there was for all to see. You can therefore image our relief to get the following message from team leader Lars Granade –  “I believe our network has been down for 5 days due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Mobile OK, just widespread power outages. Our player from Biloxi safe with his wife in Mobile but house destroyed. No word on our player from New Orleans and his family, likely evacuated.”
  Battleship Old Boys love having a good time as you can see from this photo taken during the Limerick Carnival opening parade last year (Lars is the ‘jester’ leading the team) so we are all looking forward to seeing them in Buenos Aires next year. (click image to enlarge)
   
• Within a week of the first Spanish newsletter being sent we received our first Argentinean registration. The ORCAS from the Olivos Rugby Club has a proud tradition of veteran rugby and has also hosted many of the high school sides touring from South Africa. Team organiser Alejandro Silva tells us that the club was formed in 1998 following a period of ‘restlessness’ of some parents watching their own children playing rugby who obviously couldn’t wait to get their boots on again. Here is the team pictured after a recent match. Like many of the other local sides expected to enter ORCAS will probably enjoy a pre-Carnival match against one of the visiting international teams. (click image to enlarge)
   
• We’ve just heard that the Bustard Eagles are well on their way with planning for Buenos Aires. Team leader David Morgan assures us that the organisation of the infamous ‘BBQ’ is one of their first priorities – this news will mean something to the teams who were in Limerick last year ! The team will be a United Nations side with 8 players from Brisbane, 6 from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia., 4 from the USA and 3 from the UK - plus a few supporters.
   

WITH JUST 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CARNIVAL WE INVITED OUR GROUND OPERATOR TO DESCRIBE THE SCENE IN BUENOS AIRES....
Exactly one year from today the first day of rugby matches at the World Vintage Rugby Carnival, Buenos Aires, 2006 will kick-off at the Belgrano Athletic & San Patricio rugby club grounds in what will be the largest ever rugby event to be held anywhere in South America.
Image right - Bryan O’Neill (Carnival Rugby Director), the author (Sundance Spirit) and Alfredo Ochoa (San Patricio’s RFC) - click to enlarge.

That begs the question  "is your team going to be here to indulge in what will be the best ever rugby carnival for players over 35 years young, or are you going to be one of those who reads about the fun, the exciting times & the camaraderie that others experienced after the event? "

As of today already the Vintage Rugby Office have received 31 International team entries from a host of countries such as England, Switzerland, Germany, Morocco, Tanzania, Bahamas, Canada, USA, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Ireland & Australia with many other teams having made contact advising of their impending entry.

Just to say 32 teams have already officially entered doesn’t really paint the full canvas as unlike previous classic veteran events, the numbers of participants, partners & supporters registered as coming to the Carnival would seem to be unprecedented – some have indicated 50 - 60 member strong touring parties & already, total participating numbers have exceeded 1050.

To say that the World Vintage Rugby Carnival, Buenos Aires 2006 is shaping to be a superb event is a gross understatement !
Read on to learn more about the local scene in September >>>

PRIZE WINNERS CELEBRATE...
Just prior to our last newsletter we announced that Manly Steamers had won the Early Bird entry prize which was an all inclusive night out  for 20 team members.
Team leader Hugh Thompson said the team were overwhelmed by this ‘win’ and met on Fathers Day to celebrate. The team has 44 coming to Buenos Aires and have already made arrangements for the other 24 members to be at the night out as well.    (click image to enlarge)

MEET HAMILTONS DYNAMITERS....
In our last newsletter we started to introduce teams coming to Buenos Aires. Now it’s an opportunity to meet Hamiltons Dynamiters from Cape Town, South Africa.  (click image to enlarge)
Hamiltons Dynamiters are the veteran team of Hamilton RFC - South Africa’s oldest rugby club formed in 1875. W.Nightingale suggested the club’s name be ‘Hamilton RFC’, named after his town and club in Scotland, Hamilton Academicals Football Club which was founded in 1874. The Scottish town of Hamilton is just south of Glasgow. The Academicals FC still exists but is now a soccer club. The club’s most recent Springboks include Rob Louw, Toks Van Der Linde, Carel Du Plessis and Michael Du Plessis.The Dynamiters have 42 travelling to Buenos Aires including Neil Penrose a former Springbok sevens player. Neil is 39 years old and played in the SA vs All Blacks Legends game at Newlands as a curtain raiser for the recent Tri-Nations test.

LIMITED ENTRY MEANS YOU SHOULD ENTER NOW !....
Only 80 sides will be accepted for the Buenos Aires Carnival and with a year to go there are over 30 teams already registered. 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>>.

Night, Nacht, Nurt, Notte, Ноча, Noche, 夜, Noite, Νύχτα... – whatever language you speak, night is the word that defines Buenos Aires

Vintage Rugby players and their partners who come to Buenos Aires will soon realise that this city is not where you can plan on going to bed early – unless you are determined NOT to have a good time ! In this special feature we highlight Buenos Aires by night ! Download the whole story on Buenos Aires nightlife>>

WE’VE FOUND SOME APARTMENTS....
In addition to the excellent, good value for money accommodation set aside for the Carnival we have also found another alternative for teams who want to do their own thing or are on a limited budget.

A number of teams have enquired about the availability of apartments. Sundance Spirit has identified apartments at Lois Suites Esmerelda Apartment/Hotel that could be available during the Carnival. Click here to view apartment layouts >>> . These apartments have not been secured but will be available should any team stipulate apartment styled accommodation for the Carnival week. To secure Apartments the hotel will require each team to provide a 30% deposit within 30 days of reservation confirmation. The rule is ‘no deposit no apartment’. The apartments are highly sought after, as they offer flexibility, the price is right and breakfast is included in the hotel dining room.
More details and costs >>>.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK YOUR BEST IN BUENOS AIRES....
Vintage Rugby is pleased to announce that Stud Rugby has agreed to continue their relationship with the World Carnivals. Stud Rugby produces an exciting range of rugby jerseys, shorts and socks to suit every team’s desire and budget. The company offers all sorts of designs and teams can change colours of each design to suit their club’s requirements.

Stud Rugby, which is based in South Africa, can provide extremely competitive prices and delivery time is very quick. The company will be sponsoring the Vintage Rugby bibs that older players will be wearing during the Buenos Aires Carnival.
Click below for more details:

or visit the Stud Rugby website at Studrugby.com

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

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 in November and will feature more exciting news and views about Buenos Aires 2006.