CHRISTCHURCH RUGBY ARRANGEMENTS AND HOST CLUBS

YOU WILL BE IN EXPERIENCED HANDS...

Vintage Rugby is planned and managed by an experienced team with over 25 years of experience of arranging veteran sports events. It is organised by rugby people for rugby people.

A small management group representing the three host clubs, the Carnival organisers, ground operator and Vintage Sport & Leisure has been established in Christchurch to arrange and manage the 2008 World Vintage Rugby Carnival.

World Vintage Rugby is controlled from the Vintage Sport & Leisure office in Auckland, New Zealand – for more details about VSL visit  www.vintageevents.com  .

Organization in Christchurch will be handled by two local companies - ground operations will be under the control of Southern World New Zealand a Christchurch based company with many years of experience in successfully handling the logistics of big international visiting events into Christchurch. Liaison with the clubs and arrangements concerning the social functions are being arranged by Great Events owned by Neil and Renata Blanchfield. Neil is particularly well known as the Festival Director for the 1995 Golden Oldies Festival in Christchurch which attracted over 5000 participants. For more details about Southern World and Great Events visit their websites -
www.southern-world.com ;   www.greatevents.co.nz .

The organisers of the 2008 World Vintage Rugby Carnival intend to limit the total number of visiting teams to 80 and with interest already high it will be essential to get entries confirmed as soon as possible. Register here  or contact the Vintage Rugby Office at mail@vintagerugby.com or mail the registration form to Vintage Rugby, PO Box 28-656, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.

Format....
The emphasis at the Christchurch Carnival will be on enjoyment (on and off the field). To ensure this, teams will be ‘graded’ according to their fitness and ages and although the basic rules of rugby will remain unchanged some ‘rules’  will be modified to ensure those participating can have fun without causing unnecessary health risks. A questionnaire will be sent to teams prior to the Carnival to determine strengths, weaknesses, fitness and the level of rugby they desire to play during the Carnival.

The Carnival program includes 3 playing days on which teams will play one game – a total of 3 games during the Carnival period. If teams require additional games prior to or following the Carnival the organising committee can arrange these.
 
Referees....
Official referees will be used for all games. Teams who have qualified referees in their group may nominate them to officiate during the Carnival.
 
Playing Times....
The Carnival Organisers will determine the playing times and it is anticipated that games will be scheduled between 11am and 3pm.
 
Host Club will set the standard ….
The Carnival will be hosted by one of the oldest and most respected clubs in Christchurch. Matches will be played at the Marist-Albion Rugby Club – located less than 15 minutes from the city centre and the Carnival accommodation.

The club has outstanding playing and hospitality facilities and will have all the necessary medical support required. They will also offer plenty of reasons to stay on at the club to experience traditional Canterbury rugby hospitality and entertainment.
Here are some details about the host club:
 
MARIST-ALBION RUGBY CLUB
The Marist-Albion Club is a relatively new club given that a merger took place in 1994 combining two longstanding Christchurch institutions. The club facilities include 3 senior rugby fields, excellent changing rooms and a medical room. The clubrooms are adjacent to the Riccarton Club which offers 3 bar areas, a restaurant and a gaming and pool room.

The club has a proud history and has produced 24 All Blacks, most recently Mark Hammett, Ben Blair and Casey Laulala. With 5 current Super 14 players the club continues to have a strong presence. The club boasts 2 veteran sides – Marist Marauders and Albion Allstars.

For more information visit the Marist-Albion RFC’s website  at www.crfu.co.nz/clubs 


Rugby in Canterbury
Rugby in the Canterbury region is controlled by the Canterbury Rugby Union who have supported the 2008 Carnival .

Canterbury competes in the Air New Zealand Cup, the new name for the Premier Division of the country's domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship.

Canterbury have won the NPC five times (1977, 1983, 1997, 2001, 2004). Also, they have won the Ranfurly Shield, the country's challenge trophy, 11 times.

Canterbury players make up the core of the Crusaders, the most successful team in the history of the Super 12/14, with five overall wins in the competition's 10 seasons to date.

The union has produced countless All Blacks including Andrew Mehrtens who has the record for the most All Black Test points (967 in 70 Tests). Also of note is Justin Marshall who is the second most capped All Black of all time, with 81 Test caps. Both players now continue to play professionally in Europe. The current All Blacks backs coach is former Canterbury representative and All Black Wayne Smith.

There are about 90 veteran rugby teams in the South Island and over 30 in the Canterbury region. Teams wanting pre and post Carnival games won’t have a problem.

Further information about the Canterbury Rugby Union can be found at www.crfu.co.nz

AMI Stadium:

Click this image to take a close-up view of AMI Stadium.