Read on, and welcome to Newsletter No 7, our last for 2005 …………….

MEET ANOTHER TWO TEAMS COMING TO BUENOS AIRES …..
The teams coming to Buenos Aires are lining up to share their history and backgrounds. This time it's an opportunity to meet the Harlequin Gentlemen from Surrey in England and Helvetes de Geneve from Switzerland.

Team leader Chris Kelly told us that The Harlequin Football Club was founded in 1866 as Hampstead Football Club and renamed in 1870. It is now based at the Twickenham Stoop Memorial Ground, a stones throw from the headquarters of The Rugby Football Union in West London.

The club colors are world famous with jerseys of light blue, magenta, chocolate and French grey. The club's motto is: ''Nunquam Dormio'' (Never Asleep) - which we are sure the Harlequin Gentlemen will live up to in Buenos Aires.

During its 139 year history, The Harlequins have always believed in playing cheerful, light-hearted rugby, starting attacks from the most unlikely positions.The Harlequins have never lost sight of the fact that the game is for the enjoyment of the players and all the spectators, whichever side they support.

The Harlequin Gentlemen has become the vehicle to preserve the traditions and irreverence's of the club's fine history. One such tradition that is upheld vigorously by Harlequin Gentlemen is touring and the team have been lucky enough to visit Texas, Vancouver, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, San Diego, Singapore, Australia, Dubai, Bordeaux, and Milan as well as Dublin, Paris, Edinburgh and Rome on various 5/6 Nations Tours.

"The team believes that touring has to be the ultimate ambition of all rugby players. A departure back to one's childhood. A magical land where men become young again, where their responsibilities fade away, and they can indulge themselves in the fairyland of foolishness and misbehavior. In short, they can live again without fear of contradiction."

The team is looking forward to having some fun and making new friends in Buenos Aires next year!


Helvetes de Geneve knows Vintage Rugby very well - they were one of the Foundation teams who played in Limerick in 2004. Team leader Nicolas Valko told us that the club was formed in 1993 under the mystical name 'Les Rubipedes de Geneve'. In 1999 came a change to its current name "to highlight the image of the original inhabitants Caesar had to fight off during the Roman occupation of Helvetia". These characteristics of tightly knotted arm and leg muscles, fierce independence and the desire to be friendly and always ready to help each other - were ideal for a veteran rugby team. The side has toured to France, Portugal, and Italy, parts of Switzerland and Ireland last year. Finally who can forget the award they won in Limerick for the 'Best Team Mascot' for their mascot Milka the cow - pictured here with the team. Nicolas assures us that Milka will be making the trip to Buenos Aires.

LIMITED ENTRY MEANS YOU SHOULD ENTER NOW !....
Only 80 sides will be accepted for the Buenos Aires Carnival and with just under a year to go there are 40 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>>.

DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT .....
Over the last 10 months we've said a lot of very nice things about Argentina so it is refreshing for us to be able to quote somebody else praising this wonderful country.

Recently George Wilson took a group from his vet's side - the Union Bulldogs in South Africa - to Argentina to review the facilities and attend the Pumas - Springbok test. Here is an excerpt from his message "It seems there has been a groundswell of interest from Joburg for the Argentina Carnival. You owe Julian and me a drink as we recently popped into BA to view the facilities, the accommodation, the Puma test against the Boks and many other things unmentionable on this email. Buenos Aires is amazing and value for money is exceptional. It is an unbelievable place to visit and all our guys will now be extending their stay, based on our opinion about Argentina".

LOCALS PREDICT CARNIVAL WILL BE THE BIGGEST YET .....
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.

The Carnival ground organiser Allan Falck (representing Sundance Spirit) 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;

Belgrano Athletic Rugby Club will host many matches during the Carnival

Navidad Feliz, Noël Heureux, Noël Heureux, Natale felice, , Gelukkige Kerstmis HAPPY CHRISTMAS !! No matter what the language - it means the same thing - we have received Christmas messages from teams coming to Buenos Aires: Christmas is a time for rejoicing in family & in friendships forged across the years. A time for giving thanks for what we have and celebrating the joys of life. From all of us at Sundance Spirit, we wish all in the fraternity of timeless rugby players and supporters our very best wishes for the upcoming Festive Season. We trust that Christmas & New Year will bring each and everyone of you, prosperity and harmony in your day-to-day dealings and we sincerely look forward to extending a red-carpet welcome during the upcoming September at the 2nd World Vintage Rugby Carnival here in Buenos Aires. Here´s raising a glass and toasting good fortune, good cheer & cameraderie. The Sundance Spirit team.    May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And when we meet in Buenes Aires, May you feel the wind in your face as St. Mary's glide past You on the way to the try line and the bar ! Happy Christmas everyone. St Mary's Falling Stars (Ireland) On behalf of Morris Masters Rugby, Morristown, NJ, USA, we wish our rugby mates around the world peace, prosperity and good health for this coming holiday season. At a time when there is so much turmoil and unrest, at a time when so many things just don't make sense, one thing always stays true. That one truth is the camaraderie, sportsmanship and common bond shared by rugby players around the world. It is in the true spirit of the game that we will be gathering in 9 months time. We the Morris Masters look forward to the making of new friendships and sharing in the passion that can only come from being a part of the rugby brethren. After all, as we know all so well, it's the sport played in heaven! See you all in Buenos Aires!!    Best Holiday Wishes from Battleship Old Boys RFC here in hurricane central - Mobile, Alabama. Looking forward to seeing everyone again in Buenos Aires. Left: Battleship Old Boys RFC Les Helvètes de Genève souhaitent à toutes les équipes du Vintage Rugby une nouvelle année pleine de succès ! Translation: The Helvètes de Genève would like to extend to all the Vintage Rugby teams a happy new year full of success ! Let us hope 2006 will be a gentler year for everyone, As we should all act as gentlemen to one another..... See you in September. Ian and the Doggies - Ye Olde Dogs of Wanneroo May the festive season be merry and safe - bring peace and joy to all. With family and friends from near and far sharing special moments at this time of year. False Bay Old Crocks (South Africa) At this special time of the year I count myself lucky to be a member of two families. My personal family and my family of Old Boys rugby players. May all your families have a joyous Christmas season and Happy New Year. Best wishes from the New York Vintage Whines International Touring Old Boys Rugby Team. Geoff Andrews. Right: New York Vintage Whines    There is so much fighting and greed in the world around us, this little story speaks volumes about an old man telling his son about a battle that goes on inside people. The battle is between 2 wolves inside of us all. One is evil - it is anger, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, guilt, lies and ego. The other wolf is good - it is joy, peace, love, serenity, humility, kindness, faith, compassion, truth and hope. The son then asks his father "but dad which wolf wins" and the father replies "the one you feed" so let's all show a little love and compassion this Christmas and do something for those less fortunate than ourselves. UCT Alzheimer's .. I think (South Africa) A very Happy Christmas and peaceful new year from all at Navan Rugby Club (Ireland). We are looking forward to enjoying the hospitality in Buenos Aires in 2006. May all our Vintage Rugby mates have a brilliant Xmas and New Year. The Bulldogs will have a drink on all of you. Regards to all your families and kids. Looking forward to seeing all our mates from Limerick. Union Bulldogs (South Africa) Wishing everyone heading to Buenos Aires a "Muy Felice Navidad" from all the Archiball, USA team members who are looking forward to another great adventure with Vintage Rugby!!! Les Archiball USA The Evergreen Rugby Club is anticipating with great pleasure our journey back to South America in September 2006. We wish all participating clubs and old friends the very best for 2006. The Evergreens (Canada) From the Dynamiters of Hamilton Sea Point RFC in Cape Town to all rugby loving people, especially the old crocks, we say: Have a wonderful and safe festive season, try and keep injuries to a minimum (especially drinking related ones!!) as we look forward to seeing all of you fit and healthy for next year's Vintage Classic. In addition - we hope 2006 brings good things to you all. We hope for all teams coming to Argentina next year, that Christmas brings the renewed Peace and Friendship Spirit that our sport worldwide promotes to help us enjoy a Great Buenos Aires 2006 Tour!!! ORCAS de Olivos Rugby Club (Argentina)

SALTA AND ARGENTINA'S HIGH ALTIPLANO
Just over two hours flight from Buenos Aires and bordering Bolivia, the provinces of Salta & Jujuy gateways to some of the most diverse scenery, exceptional cuisine and the leading overnight excursion ( Safari to the Clouds ) to be found in Argentina.

The high altiplano district offers endless open skies, towering mountains and passes, amazing semi-arid vistas and a history and culture dating back well before the very first Europeans set foot in the South American continent. This region of contrasts offers everything you could imagine or want in a tour - read on about this not to be missed tour >>>

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 Vintage Rugby 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....
From all of us at Vintage Rugby (Paul, Peter, Bryan, Dianne, Roger, Colin, Anthony, Malcolm, Bill & Judy, Stephen and our international reps Geoff, Mario, Alejandro, Dave, Jean Francois and Neil), we wish all Vintage Rugby supporters our very best wishes for Christmas and 2006.

We hope that the Christmas period will bring you together with family and friends to celebrate each others company and friendship and we look forward to seeing you in Buenos Aires next September. We would like to have sent everyone a Christmas card but with so many that was not practical instead we are sending you:

1. A very special Christmas card >>>  which you can open directly - we assure you that this is a safe file - just say run if your computer asks. or,
   
2. A faster, but not so much fun, graphic of our Christmas card >>>