NEWS & ENTRIES UPDATE....
New entries continue to arrive. Since our last newsletter we were delighted to receive the entry of Villersdorp Golden Oldies from Western Cape (South Africa) and Dedy Russian Stars from Russia led by veteran team organiser Yury Dayneko.

With only five months to the opening of the Buenos Aires Carnival, and with a few unavoidable deflections, we are able to confirm that we have 48 teams entered from 13 countries - Tanzania, Bahamas, Canada, Australia, South Africa, USA, Switzerland, England, Germany, Argentina, France, Russia and Ireland.

The Texas XXXs (one of the 9 US sides coming to BA) are celebrating the club’s 25th Anniversary on May 6 in Galveston with 2 matches against their old ‘adversaries’ the Anasazi RFC (New Mexico) and Galveston Old Salts. You can read more details about the club later in this newsletter.

There is also another very special 25th anniversary being celebrated in September when 7 players from the original Lansdowne vet side get together in Buenos Aires. These ‘Magnificent Seven’ were all members of the Lansdowne team that originally played in their first international vet rugby event in Long Beach, California back in 1981. Carnival Director, Bryan O’Neill was one of those who played in that side 25 years ago and he’ll be joined by Henry Blake, David Glynn, Dermot Kearns, Tom Dolan, Dermot Sheehan and Paul Ledwith on a trip down memory lane. We are not sure though if Bryan, as Carnival Director, will have time to play in all 3 scheduled matches. But there’s more ….Dr Dale Toohey, the Chairman of the 1981 Long Beach festival organising committee will also be in Buenos Aires for the week of the Carnival. We suspect there will be many happy reunions.

Hugh Thompson, team leader of Manly Steamers who have a touring party of 40 reports that a special ‘outfit’ has been designed for the evening outings in Buenos Aires. He wouldn’t divulge all the details but apparently it is quite ‘formal’ and as a group the team will look stunning. Watch this space after the Carnival for our photos!
 

MEET ANOTHER TWO TEAMS COMING TO BUENOS AIRES …..
It’s a pleasure to introduce another two teams coming to Buenos Aires who both epitomize the philosophy of Vintage Rugby – The Texas XXX’s (USA) and Ye Olde Dogs of Wanneroo (Western Australia).

Ye Olde Dogs of Wanneroo
Team leader Ian Newton told us that Ye Olde Dogs of Wanneroo was established in Perth, Western Australia in 1990. In the last 16 years the team has toured to New Zealand, South Africa, France, Ireland as well as shorter trips to Brisbane and Adelaide. The team plays about 10 games a season in the local Western Australia Senior Citizens Rugby Union Movement (also known as SCRUM). Ian says the team is made up of players from everywhere - "being a bunch of mongrel dogs from all parts of the globe, Vintage Rugby is ideally suited to our socializing and love of Rugby” he said.

The team which was also represented at the last Vintage Rugby Carnival in Limerick will have a travelling party of 33 in Buenos Aires and they are already in serious training for the tour as can be seen from this photo - above...click image to enlarge.
 Vintage Rugby is looking forward to renewing friendships with this very likeable group of rugby enthusiasts.

The Texas XXXs rugby club was established in 1981 to help develop rugby at a senior level. It has an impressive vet rugby pedigree being founded by players such as Nelson Spencer (Dallas Harlequins), Robert Ahola (Dallas Old Hats) and Max Evans (Houston Old Tin Cans/Houston Old Boys RFC) who is the current team organiser. The team  has been touring the world for over 25 years being front and centre at many international vet rugby events. The touring party coming to Buenos Aires will include over 50 members and Max is currently considering entering a second side to cater for the increasing demand to travel to this obviously very popular destination.  - click image to enlarge .

LIMITED ENTRY MEANS YOU SHOULD ENTER NOW !....
With only five months to go there are nearly 50 teams already registered and accommodation in Buenos Aires is at a premium. 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>>.

THE CITY OF SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AREAS OF ARGENTINA. READ MORE ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE REGION AND ITS MOUNTAINS, LAKES AND LANDSCAPES ….

Just over two hours flight and 1800 kms due southwest of Buenos Aires lies the city of San Carlos De Bariloche which has emerged as one of the most important tourist centres in Argentina.

The city was founded in 1902 on the shores of glistening Nahuel Huapi Lake in the province of Río Negro. It stands out for its alpine architectural features and the beauty of its backdrop landscapes made up of mountains, woods, lakes, glaciers and an exuberant flora.

Its characteristic architecture consists of buildings made from river stones and wood with slated gabled roofs. Among the most outstanding buildings are the Civic Centre and the distinctive San Carlos de Bariloche Cathedral with its wonderful array of stained glass windows. The city boasts many shopping centres, cafes and restaurants. It also has an important bustling night life catering to the café crowd and those who enjoy local bars or glorious restaurants featuring such delights as lake trout or Swiss cheese fondue.

Bariloche in spring and summer seasons, is ideal for the pursuit of all kinds of excursions and outdoor activities; in winter, the snow offers a singular panorama, including the skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of Mount Cathedral.

The region is also famed for chocolates handcrafted in the boutique gourmet Swiss, German, Austrian and Benelux owned chocolate factories along the main street, and any of its numberless varieties are most appreciated souvenirs for tourists. The city’s chocolate factories produce 3,000 tons of exquisite chocolate each year.

Accommodation in San Carlos de Bariloche includes guest house B&B´s, small boutique hotels, glorious small specialist spa resorts and internationally renowned 5 star hotels - Bariloche has them all.

There are a number of quality half and full day excursions that take visitors into the hinterland, combining lake crossings, forest walks and mountain hiking trails. One of the best of these commences from Puerto Panuelo close to the distinctive chateau-like hotel resort of Llao Llao some 24km south of Bariloche, crossing Lake Nahuel Haupi to Isla Victoria where a myriad of mountain bike and hiking trails abound.

Then moving on to the Arrayanes National Park by launch, wander the 2.5km of gloriously constructed wooden walkways in and amongst towering indigenous pale bark trees, unique to this part of the world.

Bariloche is also the start point for day tours south to the town of El Bolson and to the north, following the main highway amongst towering peaks and dense native forest to Villa La Angostura and San Martin de Los Andes. This route is known as the Seven Lakes traverse and is as scenically majestic as any region you may have previously visited.

So for those looking to experience raw natural mountainous beauty, glistening lakes, emerald green native forests and an outdoor playground supreme in early springtime, take time out after the World Vintage Rugby Carnival to make your way to San Carlos de Bariloche – we know you will be amazed and enriched by the experience.

 TO HESITATE IS TO LOOK DISAPPOINTMENT SQUARELY IN THE EYE....
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.   - Illustrated right - click image to enlarge .

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 250 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.

VINTAGE RUGBY ANNOUNCES A COMMERCIAL PARTNER IN 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. The company which is based in Buenos Aires was started in 2000 by Frank Forrester and his son Sebastian, both having had considerable experience in sales and manufacturing. The company specializes in manufacturing rugby jerseys, shorts, socks and a range of rugby accessories.

They now work with a wide network of rugby clubs – in the USA (over 150), Canada, Wales, Ireland, Mexico and all around South America.

Frank has been associated with rugby all his life, initially as a player with various Argentine representative sides playing against Wales, Ireland and Scotland. He still finds time to coach one of the Hindu teams, who are the Argentine National Club champions. In the off season he played cricket and was Argentina’s cricket captain for many years. Sebastian is following in Frank’s footsteps and has played Division 1 Rugby in Buenos Aires.

Argie Sports will be responsible for producing and marketing a range of Vintage Rugby souvenir items and clothing prior to and during the Buenos Aires Carnival and for negotiating local sponsorship arrangements.

Argie Sports

Official Suppliers of Merchandise to the World Vintage Rugby Carnival
Argie Sports - Special Vintage Rugby Merchandise Page>>

Bryan O'Neill and Allan Falck.

GROUND OPERATOR COUNTS DOWN TO THE WORLD VINTAGE RUGBY CARNIVAL....
Allan Falck (Co-Director with his wife Muriel) of Sundance Spirit (ground operators for the Buenos Aires Carnival) pictured here with Bryan O’Neill, reports that the company after many months of planning, working with Carnival hotels, and slowly but surely gathering together a collection of coach transport operators and securing the venues for both the Opening Ceremony and final Carnival farewell dinner are now at the point where the details and components to present a superb week are coming together very smoothly.

“We had the pleasure of the company of Carnival Director Bryan O´Neill in January as part of Vintage Rugby’s detailed planning required to put the rugby side of the Carnival in place. During his visit Bryan met with top officials at Turismo Argentina, the City of Buenos Aires and the Sports Ministry, as well as inspecting the rugby grounds and meeting with rugby officials.”

“It is important to remind teams wishing to take tours before or after the Carnival that such decisions need to be made now. With the deluge of international visitors that Buenos Aires and Argentina is experiencing and the robust forward bookings, it is not a sales pitch but a very genuine reality to say, those who delay committing to making firm plans are going to find that they won’t be able to get reservations as time ticks by."

The critical regions that attract countless numbers of international visitors throughout the winter months and through springtime are:

So for those teams coming to the World Vintage Rugby Carnival intending to take in some of the magnificence outside of Buenos Aires and its immediate rural hinterlands, the message is ´to delay making commitments is to court disappointment´.

Our entire Sundance Spirit crew is looking forward very much to the big week in September and to welcoming teams for what we are planning to be an extraordinary World Vintage Rugby Carnival filled with excitement and fun.”

BELGRANO ATHLETIC RUGBY CLUB IS READY TO HOST....
Late last month Paul Gleeson and Bryan O’Neill representing the Carnival organizing team, visited Buenos Aires to attend meetings in the capital and to check on final planning for the 2006 World Vintage Rugby Carnival.

During their visit they spent time at the Belgrano Athletic Rugby Club grounds close to Pilar (click to enlarge) where the Carnival matches will be played. Vintage Rugby caught up with Bryan O’Neill just prior to his return to Ireland to get his comments.

Bryan told us “The quality of the rugby fields at Belgrano is outstanding and equal to any I have had the pleasure of playing on. But it takes a whole lot more than just glorious grounds to make the World Vintage Rugby Carnival playing venue ´special`. The real crowning glory here comes as a result of the wide open spaces, the pristine grounds and the rustle of the leaves on the huge trees that surround this peaceful rural setting.

There’s a real air of tranquillity that Belgrano Rugby Club provides; a genuine rugby ambience, that along with the expansive outdoor entertainment areas and great facilities for provision of food and beverages, in my opinion, makes it the perfect venue for such a Carnival”.

Bryan was not the only one checking out Belgrano Rugby Club.
Late last year team managers of the Union Bulldogs from Pretoria and the Pirate Madalas from Johannesburg who were both in BA to take in the Springbok-Pumas Test took time out to personally review the facilities – they both gave it the Vintage Rugby tick of approval.

The club is looking forward to welcoming all participants to the World Vintage Rugby Carnival which is just 5 months away.

WHAT YOU MUST SEE IN BUENOS AIRES....
Recently Xtra an internet service provider in New Zealand published an excellent summary written by Anna Payne about the ‘best things to see and do in Buenos Aires'.
(click image to enlarge)

 Use this link to read the article - http://xtramsn.co.nz/travel/0,,12734-5049821,00.html

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 >>>.