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SO WHO IS COMING TO THE
CHRISTCHURCH WORLD VINTAGE RUGBY CARNIVAL?
30 teams from 8 countries have now confirmed their entries for the 2008
Carnival. Latest entries included the Citi Warriors (South Africa), Toulouse
Rugby Palais (France), Stuffed Hawks (New Zealand), Endeavour Hills Ratbags
(Australia) and the Creaky Old Convicts (Norfolk Island). The countries
represented to date include the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina,
Ireland, South Africa, France and Thailand.
The Rugby World Cup has obviously increased the interest in Vintage Rugby
gauging from the number of enquiries being received from teams in the UK,
USA, South Africa and Canada.
VINTAGE RUGBY NEWS....
A big vote of thanks to the teams and individuals who responded to our
invitation to confirm their preferred venue to host the 2010 World
Vintage Rugby Carnival. We will hold the voting process open until the
middle of November so it’s not too late to give us your opinions now.
Its simple - all you need to do is complete this questionnaire.
(Download it as a Word.DOC) Fill it out and send it back to us as an attachment to paul@vintagerugby.com
Carnival organisers were delighted to receive the recent entry from Toulouse
Rugby Palais - the Toulouse Lawyers' team. Team organiser Jean
Francois Monfraix tells us that the team is actually the French Lawyers
Champions ! Vintage Rugby is not sure if this means in the courtroom or on
the rugby field – we will all find out in Christchurch next year.
Vintage Rugby has always encouraged teams to send in their news items.
David Morgan (Bustard Eagles - Australia) filed this report about his recent
trip with the XXXX Goldies to Norfolk Island to play the Creaky Old Convicts (both teams are
registered for the Christchurch Carnival).
 ‘A
2-hour flight from Brisbane followed by 3 days of great food and drinks,
wonderful hospitality from the locals, a half-day tour of the high and
higher points of this paradise in the South Pacific, a lazy game of touch,
bush walks, a lawn bowls game (barefoot), a fish fry, and wine tasting could
hardly be described as classic preparation for a big match but that is what
the Norfolk Islanders dished out for their guests. (EDITOR’S NOTE:
No mention of any rugby yet?)
Day 4 dawned and it was finally time to allow us finely tuned athletes to
focus on the game ahead (at last some rugby) before a quiet
meander to the lush green fields situated on the historic parade grounds of
the second settlement – made by convict labour, usurped by officers and now
enjoyed by the descendents of convicts and mutineers!
It was a beautiful warm winter’s day with clear blue skies and golden
sunshine – a mild 10 degrees. Our team’s cheer leaders (wives and partners)
took up their positions and strange as it may sound their chant sent shivers
down the spine of every player – the chant went something like ‘No Win – No
Sex’. Now we’d heard how coaches place pressure on a team but this was
ridiculous!
 The encounter that followed turned out to be a fast and solidly
‘contestable’ game which ebbed and flowed – we were at the ebbing end and
the Creaky Old Convicts were on the flowing side. Perhaps the most memorable
moment came when Cyril Andrews our 92 year old winger/centre (played for
Australia against South Africa in 1938) carved up the Convicts, scored under
the posts and then converted his own try much to the delight of the crowd
who by now had ringed the ground.
The game finished in true Vintage Rugby tradition (nobody remembers the
score) with many of the players swapping sides before the exchange of awards
and the all important post match hospitality prior to being whisked off to
the local club for a farewell dinner.
The Norfolk folk were fantastic hosts and are keen to welcome other vintage
rugby teams to this paradise island.’
Share your own team news with us.
Send us your story and some pictures to embellish the tall tales –
follow this to send us news>
THE UNION BULLDOGS ARE COMING TO
CHRISTCHURCH....
The Union Bulldogs, from Johannesburg, are long term supporters of Vintage
Rugby having played at the Limerick and Buenos Aires Carnivals.
 Organisers
were delighted to receive their registration for Christchurch. We asked team
leader George Wilson to provide a backgrounder about the team. George told
us …
“In the seventies the Union Old Boys played as the "Madalas" which is
African for "old men". Over the years the members participated in club level
tournaments but because the members were always part of an existing rugby
club, the club always came first. Some of the members played for the clubs
fourth side but it was competitive rugby. It was only in the mid nineties
that we started getting organised as a true Golden Oldies club. Since 1998
we have participated in vet rugby events in Cape Town, Adelaide and Dublin.
The Bulldogs were the only SA team at the inaugural Vintage Rugby Carnival
in Limerick.
The Bulldog is an emblem and name we picked up on the journey. The original
Bulldog was a caricature designed for an obscure event at the club by a now
unknown person. The Old Boys adopted the design as our logo in 1998 and ever
since we have been known as the Union Bulldogs.
Our driving force is an extreme passion for rugby and the development of our
club, which changed its name to Union Bulldogs RFC as well. Most of our
members are actively involved in the management of the club. The camaraderie
of our friends and fellow rugby players is a major element in the enjoyment
and pleasure we get from playing vintage rugby. We never play to win. always
to enjoy ourselves.”
NASA PROVIDES PROOF THAT VINTAGE RUGBY IS THE GAME
THEY PLAY IN HEAVEN
Readers will recall our claim in the last Vintage Rugby newsletter that
Rugby could be the game played in heaven. Well now with the help of NASA
(and special thanks to Geoff Andrews who sourced these special photos) we
can provide you with evidence to support this claim ! These are NASA photos
of the South Island of New Zealand – Christchurch is the bay immediately to
the left of the astronaut playing rugby.
Vintage Rugby is returning to its spiritual home next year, when the
“gateway” to Rugby heaven will shift south to New Zealand’s garden city,
Christchurch.
World Vintage Rugby Carnival Director Paul Gleeson says up to 80 teams from
all around the world are expected to be in Christchurch from September
14-20, 2008 for what promises to be a highly memorable Rugby occasion.
 “Vintage
Rugby is already creating legends – well, myths and legends,” says Gleeson.
“Christchurch is already home to many wonderful Rugby moments and we
couldn’t think of a more welcoming environment for mature Rugby players to
celebrate their love of the game.
“We often say that Rugby is the game played in heaven, and I’m confident all
who attend the Vintage Carnival next year will find the Canterbury province
a most appropriate gateway on the journey to Rugby’s promised land.”
“And we have no doubt that the opportunities to meet fellow players and swap
stories and experiences will be right up there with the first two Carnivals.
Christchurch is sure to add to this rich tapestry of Vintage Rugby
friendships, where success is gauged not by any results board, but by one’s
ability to socialise, laugh and demonstrate a capacity for beer
consumption.”
vintage rugby fraternity...
 Want to be part of an international veteran rugby event ? This is a
unique opportunity to play against and socialise with older rugby players
from around
the
world. The six day Vintage Rugby Carnival includes 3 match days and 2 huge
social functions plus plenty of time to tour the Canterbury area as well as
meeting old and new friends.
 Full
details about the 2008 World Vintage Rugby Carnival can be found on the
event website
www.vintagerugby.com. Details include information about
the Carnival programme and costs.
The official Carnival entry brochure is available and is also loaded on the
website.
To view or download >>>. To request
a personal copy of the Carnival DVD, Carnival brochure and Christchurch
publicity brochures just send this email to the
Vintage Rugby Office >>>
Enter now to avoid disappointment.
You can enter on-line here>.
CHRISTCHURCH
Where is it?....
Click the image to see the big picture - you'll see Christchurch and
make-out the goalposts.
 This
NASA photo shows Christchurch from outer space (see the goal posts)
- which is situated on the east coast of the South Island, and just one
hour’s drive from the spectacular Southern Alps which houses many ski fields
(some of which will still be open at the time of the Carnival), much native
fauna and incredible vistas.
There is nowhere else in the world where, within two hours of an
international airport, you can ski at a world-class alpine resort, play golf
on 37 courses, bungy jump, go rafting, mountain biking, wind surfing, whale
watching and visit world-class wineries and gardens.
Fun, fashion and festivities - there's so much going on in Christchurch that
you'll definitely want to be there! Spring in Christchurch is the perfect
time for a well deserved holiday break, and now it's so easy with the new
bethere.co.nz events and holiday guide.
Christchurch is known as the festival city. Be sure to check out
www.bethere.co.nz before you
leave home or when you arrive in Christchurch.
The following useful Christchurch websites will give you more reasons to
come to Christchurch for the 2008 World Vintage Rugby Carnival.
www.sportsdestination.christchurch.org.nz
www.christchurch.org.nz
www.christchurchnz.com
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...
Click here for the Image Gallery>>>
why not join the vintage rugby
team....
How about a Weblink …Banners … We have a couple of great banners all
pre-coded and ready to paste into your website.
Details here >>>.
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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If you would like to forward this
and future newsletters to teams
or friends,
please
follow this>
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To add members of your team to our E-mail database,
follow this>
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If you have news about your team
that you’d like to be included in future newsletters,
follow this to send us news>
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However, if you do not wish to
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please let us know
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PRIVACY POLICY:
Under the Privacy Act 1993 any address or information you supply us with
will be held in secure circumstances by Vintage Sport and Leisure Limited,
Snells Beach, New Zealand and used to communicate with you about VSL events,
its associations and activities.
Our mailing lists are available only to Vintage Sport and Leisure Limited
and are not available to any third parties or organisations.
Vintage Rugby Office
Vintage Sport and Leisure Limited
Level 1, 250 Mahurangi East Road, PO Box 78, Snells Beach 0942
Telephone: (64) (9) 425 5294
Facsimile: (64) (9) 425 6956
E-mail:
newsletter@vintagerugby.com
Website: www.vintagerugby.com
Enjoy Golf?
If your Rugby days are over and Golf is your new sport take a look at what
is happening within Vintage Golf –
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