LATEST ENTRIES AND NEWS....
Archiball Association from Augusta (illustrated) and Southern Downs Golden Oldies – Raging Rodents from Warwick in Queensland are the latest teams to enter for the 2008 Carnival in Christchurch. We now have 13 entries from teams in 7 countries confirmed :

• New York Vintage Whines (USA)
• Lansdowne Treasures (Ireland)
• Battleship RFC Old Boys (USA)
• Pinguisaurios (Argentina)
• Bustard Eagles (Australia)
• Manly Steamers (Australia)
• Marist Marauders (New Zealand)
• All Virgins (Argentina)
• Union Bulldogs (South Africa)
• Jackson Hole Mangy Moose (USA)
• Old Bangkok Bangers (Thailand)
• Archiball Association (USA)
• Southern Downs Golden Oldies – Raging Rodents (Australia)

Some news from Australia: Late last year the Queensland Over 35’s Association hosted a function to help promote the 2008 Carnival. The function was held at the XXXX clubhouse and attended by 20 team leaders representing South East Queensland. Here (pictured - right) is Ronnie O’Brien (Souths Legends) receiving the carnival information and DVD from Geoff (Gull) Phillips (Brisbane Budgies) with Kevin Kiri (Queensland XXXX) looking on. We understand the 2008 Carnival programme was well received.
 

BUENOS AIRES REMEMBERED....
Many teams are still writing to us telling us what a great time they experienced in Buenos Aires (illustration left). You can read the extensive report on the Buenos Aires Carnival which was included in our last newsletter and see all the photos here >>>

Rugbytime were the official media partners for the Buenos Aires Carnival. The company took many photos during the week of the Carnival – on the field, off the field and at the social functions. You can view over 500 photos and a small number of short videos by visiting the Rugbytime website www.rugbytime.com/vintagerugby/  

Argie Sports have a small selection of unsold souvenir items from the Carnival still available for sale. They can be viewed and ordered online - http://www.argiesports.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc  - click on the Argie Sports logo to view the range.

CHRISTCHURCH ANNOUNCEMENT A BIG HIT....
The news that the third World Vintage Rugby Carnival will be staged in Christchurch, the heartland of New Zealand Rugby and home of the all-conquering Canterbury Crusaders - from September 14 – 20, 2008, has been well received by veteran rugby players all over the rugby playing world. This is confirmed by the entry of 13 teams already from 7 countries – nearly 2 years before the Carnival is being staged.

Vintage Rugby is an opportunity for passionate former players of all shapes and fitness levels, to relive past glories on and off the pitch. It provides the chance for those over the age of 35 (two men’s sections Over 35 and Over 46) who still hanker to scrum, ruck and maul with their mates against rivals from around the world.

Christchurch is famous for many things including its wonderful sporting tradition as one of the great bastions of Rugby. It is the stronghold of Rugby in the most rugby-mad country in the world. Rugby permeates the lives of Cantabrians and is everyone’s sport – locals are remarkably knowledgeable about the game and are passionate in their support of their chosen club.

Canterbury people love their rugby and graciously welcome visitors to share their fervour for the game, both on and off the field. The 2008 World Vintage Rugby Carnival will truly be a celebration of rugby, enjoyed by people who love the game.

With 80 teams from over 20 countries expected to be at the Carnival, the international language of Rugby will resonate around the playing fields and in the Canterbury pubs and rugby clubs (did you know that there are 18 rugby clubs in metropolitan Christchurch ?) and visitors can expect to create as many memorable moments off the field as on for the participants whose only requirement is to be aged over 35, and have a love of the game.

THIS WAS PERHAPS THE MOST SPECIAL MOMENT IN SPORTS AND MEANT MORE TO ME THAN ANY VICTORY....
Hugh Thompson team organiser of the Manly Steamers sent us this extraordinary story written by one of the Steamers, Daniel Meredith from Sunnydale in California. It sums up what sport is all about and is a must read for all Vintage Rugby players…..

‘I had forgotten how much I love to play rugby. In college, my life revolved around if for a good part of the year, and when my knee trouble started during the last half of my junior year, I was deeply saddened at not being able to play. Almost as much as playing, I missed the community that surrounds rugby and the camaraderie that is shared between all ruggers. It is almost and unsaid bond between those that play. An understanding – this isn’t easy, but if you can do it, you are one of us. All you have to do is play your hardest, play clean and play fair. That is all it takes.

Today I played in the last game of the Vintage Rugby Carnival in Buenos Aires. We were the last match, on the last day, and played the host club in a friendly game. Again, the Manly Steamers (illust left) played their hearts out and fought a younger, more aggressive team to a draw. The match was a friendly, and therefore more relaxed, but there were a few little things that really stuck out in the game.

The first was that even though we did not speak Spanish, and neither the referee, nor the opposing side spoke English – we all played the game and had no problems communicating. Sport is odd like that, there are rules. You learn them from the time you begin playing. They are a constant, even though the interpretation of them vary from continent to continent, or even match to match !

The second moment is harder to describe and fully understand unless you have spent 4 days with these people. Warwick – a member of the Manly side – was paralysed in an auto accident a few years ago. He still tours with the team, accompanied by a care giver and is included in everything possible. In the last period of today’s match, it was arranged to have Warwick score the last try of the game. Whilst being a symbolic gesture, it was wholly more than that.

He was wheeled on the field at the 22 yard line and we passed the ball out from the scrum along the backline to Warwick on the wing. He moved, slowly but surely, along the sideline, and was then pulled into a rolling maul involving not only the Manly side, but also our opponents. We pulled him forward in his chair and as he crossed the try line both sides erupted in cheers. This was perhaps the most special moment in sports in which I have participated. It means more to me than any victory or any loss. It expresses the true nature of sport and why it is much more than a game. The people involved, the community that surround it and the memories it creates are beyond simple scores and statistics to which we are often reduced. Only in participation can you hope to understand and only then would you comprehend why a group of over-aged heroes from a forgotten era still gather every two years from around the world to play the game they love and celebrate the joy.
 

NEW ZEALAND TRIP ‘BETTER THAN THERAPY’....
The following story appeared in a recent edition of the New Zealand Herald . It makes interesting reading and applies internationally as well as to American visitors.

Stressed out Americans would be better spending their money on a holiday to New Zealand  than resorting to therapy to make them feel better, according to a study

Air New Zealand today released what it called a "ground-breaking study" it had commissioned from former Nasa scientists.

The study measured the psychological and physiological effects of taking a holiday in New Zealand.
The airline said the study revealed new insights into what would attract "well-heeled" Americans to take a break down-under.

Air New Zealand Group General Manager International Airline, Ed Sims, said the study showed a New Zealand holiday was better value than a session with the therapist.

"We believe we've found a rich seam of potential customers looking to escape the rat race.

"Americans spend an estimated US$8.5 billion ($12.5 billion) annually on self-improvement and anti-stress treatments including personal coaching, weight loss and stress management - and that's a market expected to grow to more than US$11 billion by 2008.

"Our pioneering study suggests that money spent on this compulsive search for well-being could be better invested in holiday time in New Zealand."

Mr Sims said Americans were similar to New Zealanders - "they are their own worst enemies when it comes to taking leave".

The study - the Vacation Gap - was conducted by former Nasa scientists at Alertness Solutions, who employed equipment and techniques previously only used to analyse the effect of travel on astronauts and pilots.

"What the Vacation Gap study revealed are new opportunities for New Zealand to market itself to Americans looking to escape their hectic lives ..."

Approximately 9 per cent of visitors to New Zealand come from the US.

"We can't afford to sit back and wait for the next The Lord of the Rings to transport Americans by screen to New Zealand," Mr Sims said.

NZPA story

CHRISTCHURCH CARNIVAL NEWS UPDATE....

• The Vintage Rugby Office has produced an informative 7-minute DVD which provides details about the 2008 Carnival programme, host clubs, Christchurch City and the Canterbury region.
   
• The DVD has also been loaded on the website. To view simply click here>>  and follow the links to view streaming video, or even save them to your own PC for repeated viewing or forward this message to a team mate or colleague who may be interested in being part of the 2008 Christchurch Carnival.
   
• Full details about the 2008 Carnival can be found on the event website www.vintagerugby.com . It includes information about the Carnival programme, costs and other details about Vintage Rugby.
   
• The official Carnival entry brochure (English version) is now available and loaded on the website. To view or download >>>. To request a personal copy of the DVD, Carnival brochure and Christchurch publicity brochures just send this email to the Vintage Rugby Office >>>
   
• Christchurch City Council who are big supporters of the 2008 Carnival recently released a special Christchurch newsletter which included a wide range of information about Christchurch and what teams can expect to experience in 2008. To read this excellent newsletter >>>

TEAMS NUMBERS NOT ALWAYS SO.....
Did you know that there was a time when numbering players was frowned upon as it smacked of tawdry professionalism. Thanks to South African Rugby writer Paul Dobson and Planet Rugby we are able to reprint the fascinating history of team numbers.

These days nobody bothers about professionalism - nobody, that is, except those who have to pay the players and the coaches and the fitness trainers and the first aid people and the PR people and the media liaison officers and so on and on, as rugby becomes the gigantic employment opportunity it never was.

Numbers have taken the place of names in referee speak. ?
Off-side, Number 6.?
Get onside, 8.?

Numbers have replaced the jargon of position. Who is the best 9 in the country? I’m not sure whether to play him at 6 or at 7.? (Note the origin of being at sixes and sevens!)

When England first wore numbers at Twickenham, on 18 March 1922, King George V, a keen rugby supporter, turned to the secretary of the Scottish Rugby Union, the conservative J Aikman Smith, and said, "I see England have numbers. What a good idea. When are Scotland going to get numbers?” In indignation, Aikman Smith replied: "Sire, my players are men, not cattle." And the story has it that he refused to speak to His Majesty for the rest of the afternoon.

Numbers, it is believed, were first used in 1897 in Brisbane when the New Zealanders played Queensland. "As an experiment to assist spectators, a number will be placed on each player's back."

When they were brought to Sydney in 1904 players objected because it was too convenient a way for referees to identify miscreants.

On 21 January 1922 numbers were used in a Five Nations match for the first time - when England played Wales at Cardiff Arms Park. It rained. Wales won 28-6.


The Springboks wore numbers on the 1906-07 tour, though not against Scotland. Their opponents sometimes wore numbers, e.g. Yorkshire, Middlesex, Newport, East Midlands. The Springboks wore tour numbers. That means that the player always played in the number given him for the tour. 29 could play next to 3. This was common practice till well after World War II.

It would seem that the 1905-06 All Blacks did not wear numbers.

The International Rugby Board first discussed the numbering of players in 1921 when Wales and England let it be known that they intended to number their players. "The Board expressed the view that this was a matter for the several unions to decide on, having regard to the wishes of their players."

Howard Marshall - of Haileybury, Oxford, Harlequins and the Barbarians and for years the rugby correspondent of the Daily Telegraph - wrote in 1936 in an article entitled What Rugger Means to Me: " Here I must make what is probably my last protest against the numbering of players. I remember how I resented this cattle-branding when I was playing myself, and my unholy delight when the numbered jerseys did not correspond with the programmes. Rugby football is not a game for such fripperies as numbering and programmes; it is not a game to be watched by any but those who have played it and understand it."

In 1933 soccer players were numbered at the FA Cup Final for the first time. Everton, who won, played Manchester City. Everton were numbered 1-11, Manchester City 12-22. Celtic still refuse to wear numbers on their backs.

Sometimes teams have worn letters - to confuse pirate programme sellers.
The All Blacks did that in 1921.Confusing pirate programme sellers was not the only reason. There was also the belief that a single letter was less confusing than two numbers. The famous English clubs, Bristol and Leicester Tigers, used letters, from A to O, until the advent of professionalism and TV exposure. Bristol had 'A' at fullback, Leicester 'O' at fullback. When they played it looked as if a whole lot of scrabble tiles had been flung onto the field. In 1999 they changed from letters to numbers.

Some prefer not to use numbers in the pious belief that the game is a team game and no individual is so important that attention should be drawn to him. Schools especially like this as it suggests that rugby is valued as a part of education with value in teamwork and effort, not a means of marketing an individual.

There have been times when teams have not had used a number 13 but a 16 instead, out of superstition. Then you get players like Danie Gerber who insisted on using the number 13! Bath RFC does not have a No. 13, using 16 instead. West Hartlepool no longer have a No. 5 after a lock John Haw died of a heart attack during a match in 1994.

At one stage the fullback was Number 1.  The front row wore Nos 8,9,10, the locks were 11 & 12, the loose forwards 13,14,15. Or, more frequently, the front-row went 13, 14, 15, the locks 11 & 12, and the loose forwards 10, 9, 8. The number 8 has, down the years, more frequently worn 8 than any other position has stayed with a number. The loose forwards are lumped together as they were the back row in the old 3-2-3 scrum formation, and are still called the back-row even though scrums seldom have a back row in modern times. The loose-forwards are still 6,7,8 as if they formed a back-row but with the player at the back as the No.8. South Africa invented this scrum formation and developed that player’s modus operandi and call him the eighth man.

Just after World War II in the Five Nations, numbering was from 1 to 15, starting with the fullback at 1. From the beginning of the Sixties the numbering changed to what it is today. From 1966 on it became uniform in Test matches that the numbering be from 15 to 1 or, if you like, 1 to 15 where 15 was the fullback and 1 the loosehead.

The IRB, like most law making bodies, are often reactive. Something happens and then you make a law to cover it/govern it/get rid of it. They decided to order the numbering for matches under their jurisdiction.

The positions should be as follows, the numbers being for teams which wear numbers:

15 fullback
14 wing (right)
13 centre
12 centre, second five-eighth
11 wing (left)
10 flyhalf, first five-eighth
9 scrumhalf, halfback
8 eighth man, number 8, No.8
7 flank
6 flank
5 lock
4 lock
3 prop (tighthead)
2 hooker
1 prop (loosehead)

The names and numbers have been given for the positioning of a team at a scrum, for in olden days the scrum was the most important facet of play. Games in fact were almost one long scrum. Now they are important but far less so.

David Campese wore a Number 11 jersey though he played on the right wing.

In 1998 the All Blacks wore a 2 on their sleeves ? a tribute to Sean Fitzpatrick who had just recently retired.

The use of replacements, first for injury and then as tactical substitutions, has led to a fairly orderly bench. There are as many as seven players on the bench, often but not always split 4-3 between forwards and backs. The bench is numbered from 16 to 22 where, often but not always, 16 is a hooker, 17 a prop, and 20 a scrumhalf. Many consider a team as now consisting of 22 players with a maximum of 15 on the field at any one time.

CREDIT: South African Rugby writer Paul Dobson and Planet Rugby.

BANKS PENINSULA ONE OF CANTERBURY’S MANY UNSPOILT TREASURES....
There is a wealth of things to do in Christchurch and Canterbury, the only problem you’ll have will be finding the time to fit it all in! Banks Peninsula is one of Canterbury’s many unspoilt treasures and is only a short drive from the city of Christchurch. From dramatic landscapes and unique wildlife to quirky galleries and cafes, the Banks Peninsula has a vibrancy and energy about it that will make you want to go back for more!

The rugged cliffs and glistening blue waters shape the small port town of Lyttelton. Only 15 minutes drive away from Christchurch City, Lyttelton is well worth a visit, rich in history with steep and narrow streets leading to historic cottages and buildings including the castle like structure of the still active timeball station. Lyttelton has now become a popular place to live and visit. The town is host to an array of eclectic cafes and is home to the weekly Saturday ‘Farmers Market’ a great way to shop for organic and specialised produce whilst sipping coffee to live entertainment.

There are many great picnic spots to enjoy around Lyttelton Harbour including Governor’s Bay, Charteris Bay and Orton Bradley Park. If you’re after a quiet beverage try Godley House in Diamond Harbour. This historic pub has an expansive beer garden with live entertainment on Sundays, creating an atmosphere that is suitable for the whole family.

Banks Peninsular is also home to Akaroa - one of the South Island’s oldest towns. This French and British settlement is nestled in an ancient volcano, with well preserved buildings and amazing wildlife it’s a great holiday spot for both locals and visitors. There are activities available to suit everyone, whether it be enjoying the vista from a local waterfront café, swimming with the tiny Hectors Dolphins (below) or exploring the harbour via sea kayak. For a nice treat pick up some local fish and chips and spend an afternoon in the sun relaxing on the beach.

If you want to exert yourself the Banks Peninsula Track is a great way to digest the volcanic history of the Peninsula. The track starts in Akaroa, traversing 35km of stunning volcanic coastline, sandy beaches and native bush. Marvel at the waterfalls cascading over old lava edges; stand in awe as you walk through expansive Beech Forest and Native Totara contrasted with grassy farmlands. With 2 or 4 day hike options available the track is renowned for its charming accommodation, friendly welcoming atmosphere and it’s ‘bath under the stars’!

Another ‘must do’ in Banks Peninsula is Little River. Historically the township of Little River was rich in sawmilling, with timber being used in many of Christchurch’s earliest buildings. Now Little River is a great place to stop for an ice- cream and browse through the Art Gallery filled with paintings, jewellery and sculptures by local artists.
Just down the road from Little River is home to Birdlings Flat, where you can view the sea in all its fury as it pounds the stone clad beach. This is a great place to enjoy some time out, scrambling around the rocky shores whilst taking in the airy scenery.

So whether you’re looking for a day trip or a short break option Banks Peninsula
certainly has something for everyone. See you there!

TWO GOOD REASONS TO REGISTER FOR THE 2008 CARNIVAL NOW !....
There are two sound reasons to enter your team as quickly as possible:
Entry for the 2008 World Vintage Rugby Carnival will be strictly limited to the first 80 visiting teams to complete the entry process AND you can also discover why Christchurch is known as the ‘Garden City’ on a special sightseeing tour. Southern World New Zealand  is offering an ‘early bird’ prize to be won by every (yes every) team that registers for the Carnival before January 31, 2007. This fantastic prize includes a half-day escorted Christchurch sightseeing excursion for up to 30 members of your team. To win this great prize you just need to complete the team’s registration before January 31, 2007 !
Who needs any other incentives to enter now? You can enter on-line >>>
 

YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT ….
Take a look at this collection of photos which include wonderful images of Christchurch, the Canterbury Region and New Zealand – all just waiting for you to come and see yourself >>>
 

FINALLY....
We will keep you updated about Vintage Rugby and the 2008 World Vintage Rugby Carnival in Christchurch.

Your next issue of the Vintage Rugby update will be sent in six weeks and will feature more exciting news and views about Vintage Rugby and Christchurch 2008.

And we can keep others up to date too....

• If you’d like us to mail you material about the 2008 Christchurch Carnival please please ask> or,

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