World Rugby Festival 2010 - Sydney, Australia

[jono]

Jeez Jono if they're the choices I'll take Fulv!

probably the better choice.

[Burgs]

I'm nearly about to head off until October but don't forget to keep throwing around ideas for this project.
There are plenty of our regulars yet to answer the poll for starters!
While it is great to have the support of so many who can't play, it would be good to hear from a few more who may be able to dust off the boots and liver!

[Burgs]

Just to whet the appetite a little folks.
We had a little momentum, let's not forget this project!

Rugby for Fun

Thu 25 Sep 2008
Rugby for Fun

The pace was fast and furious.

And that was just the socialising. Correction: that was only the socialising.
Welcome to the 17th Air New Zealand Golden Oldies world rugby festival where 3000 hardy chaps – and a good few supporters of the fairer sex – converged on the Scottish capital of Edinburgh for a week of fun, friendship and fraternity, as the Golden Oldies’ motto goes.
Those of a social bent over the age of 35, who still fancy a run around to stay fit or even just to spin more lies in the clubhouse, meeting up with old friends, making new ones and celebrating rugby for what it is, a unique sport that fosters camaraderie.

Some of the 120-odd team names from 19 countries were as colourful as their playing strips. From Australia there were the Bundaberg Rumruckers and the Chartered Towers Knackered Bulls, from Scotland there was the Orkney and Shetland Stoorworms, from the USA the Old Parts and even a side labelling itself the Alaska Old Oosiks and Ancient Aztecs. The Washington Poltroons went by the motto: Hostile, Senile, Fragile. The first tag might have been a misnomer but they certainly lived up to the third adjective on occasion. They press-ganged festival ambassador Gavin Hastings into playing for them. Like with all his other myriad duties during the week, Hastings did so with good grace, though he did apologise to a man in red shorts (off limits for tackling) whom he tackled. A bottle of scotch sufficed for his apology. Hastings pressed the flesh all week and was widely recognised and feted.

Mark Ella had a few runs too, sometimes outside former Rugby News staffer and Horowhenua halfback Bevan Sanson, there working on a TV documentary. Ella was content to fill a distribution role, clearly saving himself for ambassadorial duties during the next festival, in his home town Sydney in 2010.

The rugby, held over three days on the outer fields at Murrayfield, was something to behold. There was no official scorekeeping, but there were some fascinating plays. One bloke scorched in for a try and was duly penalised for running too fast! The referee crossed for a try in another match. There was the amusing sight of one team kicking off, then promptly heading to the sidelines for a shot of something warm, shared with the opposition, of course, before trudging back for the second kickoff, which sailed over the sideline by a good eight metres.

A smattering of former internationals other than Hastings and Ella laced up for a run, including Scotland’s Iwan Tukalo and Iain Paxton, along with Italy’s Manrico Marchetto.

Surprisingly, and disappointingly, there were only six teams in total from England and France, with huge rugby populations to draw upon. But the passion of the Italians, the Americans, and even the sole Russian team, among others, more than made up for that shortfall.

Easton Ray of Australia, at 85, was the oldest player, so he invariably had a free rein to run as far as he liked, provided the 20m rule had not been invoked.

Some players, rather wider of girth than in their prime, found it difficult to suppress their competitive instincts, even if a quick burst was invariably followed by five minutes of inactivity. There were some big hits going in, and that cannot be easy the morning after a dozen pints of Scotland’s finest, not to mention a cheeky wee dram.

This writer struggled to keep pace with some of the players in the bar, but was able to stave off demands for my playing services on the field. Still 34, I had not reached the pivotal age of 35, which qualifies Golden Oldies for action.

There were some fit looking thirty-somethings who scooted round, not to mention Air New Zealand’s Keith Robinson, whose conditioning levels would put a man half his age to shame.
There were, it must be said, some dangerously large looking individuals on show. One bloke looked like a white version of Bill Cavubati with a beard that would have put WG Grace to shame. He plonked himself on the wing and tried not to get his pulse rate up. His short trots were broken up when an invasion of the pitch by several ‘full’ female supporters elicited the inevitable call: ‘Which one’s the hooker?’

Edinburgh’s historic, self-contained city proved to be a most popular venue, and many of the participants took advantage of adding to the economy while seeing the many sights, often accompanied by their spouses, many of whom would have acted as nurses to bruised bones and pulled muscles by the third day of rugby action. At least that was the impression given some of the limping souls around the hotel after even day one.

The opening ceremony – starting at Edinburgh Castle and the ensuing parade of nations kicked it all off on a strong note, while the Highland Day Out at the Musselburgh racecourse featured caber tossing and, I kid you not, pig racing. If that was not to your taste, whisky tasting was a popular substitute.

There were some impressive numbers posted at the Grande Finale dinner at the Highland Hall in Ingliston, just out of Edinburgh. They reckon it was the largest sit-down dinner ever in Scotland, with a startling 22,000 pints of beer and 185 kilos of haggis consumed.
The whole week was a massive logistical operation – there isn’t a bigger rugby tournament in the world – but well done to ground operators Gulliver Sports Travel, Air New Zealand and Platinum One, the latter the company of the Hastings brothers which took care of the rugby side of things. It would be a stretch to say everything went off seamlessly but initial feedback seems to be that this Golden Oldies festival was a raging success.

You can bet many of the players will be preparing in earnest for Sydney 2010. Mark Ella will see you there.

Check out http://www.goldenoldiessports.com for further info.

[.X.]

Have only just spotted this thread

I am up for a run, and also to help on the organisational side - I can be local-ish Liason.

[KenyaQuin]

My position hasn't changed (happy to play; a bit tight on the organisational aspect however willing to help/assist where possible to get us to Sydney in 2010).

[Burgs]

Righto folks, we are now under two years away from the Carnival, it's October and, as mentioned I am now back at the "wheel"!

We really need to start hearing from some more potential players to gauge playing depth and I would suggest working towards a meeting.

I would initially suggest locking in prior to the Crusaders pre-season fixture as a likely starting point, but if any of you want to commit to gathering for a dedicated beer earlier than that then I may be available too.

At the moment I look to be going to be in Perth late November, mid January and then for the Saders.

That said, I'm more than willing for someone else, regardless of age or gender, to stick there hand up to drive us all along.

Have a read over Fuls post #12 as to the sort of commitment that will required from a certain date and let's see what we can sort out.

[brokendown gunfighter]

I remember playing against the Washington Poltoons When the golden Oldies comp was held in Perth
they were far too serious & wouldnt tone down,so we had to teach them a lesson.After a bit of old fashion rucking,they soon got the message.Great After match drinking session with them though

[Burgs]

So does that count as you wanting to dust off the boots again BG?
Only have four players and five maybes as yet...

[brokendown gunfighter]

back is totally RS burgs
my last game I played,15 years ago,My back went as I put a ball into the scrum.F...ing hilarious to everyone but me
managed to crawl off the field after waving the stretcher away
I think the answer is NO

[Burgs]

Bugger....option 4?

[brokendown gunfighter]

not totally excluded

[Burgs]

Master in Charge of Cheerleaders

[fulvio sammut]

I'm still in. Can rope in another 5 or 6 like minded people in 40 -50 age group plus partners if needed....

Plus Gary Mickle...

[Burgs]

Nice work fulv

[Em-Forcer]

I'm still up for lending an administrative/organisational hand.

And believe me, if you need the heck organising out of something, I'm your woman.

I'd quite like a few days off after I finally get to over to Perth (next week!) but after that would be well up for it.

I was looking forward to a bit of fact-finding at the Festival in Edinburgh, but unfortunately was away. Spotted some, erm, 'interesting' get-ups round town on my return, though! Costumes seem to be de rigueur...