GOLDEN OLDIE NEWS

IN THIS ISSUE

A Word From Your Secretariat
Follow-up from Our Edinburgh Festival
Much to Benefit from Mini-Festivals
US Rugby Foundation Making a Difference
Chris Ropitini
Vale Cyril Andrews
Bits ‘n Pieces
Golden Oldies Rugby Chile
Heard at the Bottom of the Ruck
The Last Word

A WORD FROM YOUR SECRETARIAT

Welcome to the New Year and our first email newsletter for 2009!In addition to our World Festivals for Hockey (Adelaide, Australia 20/27 September) and Netball (Queenstown, New Zealand, 01/08 November) this year, Rugby players will be looking forward to our Golden Oldies ‘Pacific Rim’ mini - Festival being held over five days in the Cook Islands, (see our website http://www.goldenoldiessports.com/ for full details)Planning for our 2010 World Rugby Festival is progressing at pace and we continue to receive huge support from around the Golden Oldies world - look out for our pending update announcement! A number of events and stories continue to come in following our 17th World Festival in Edinburgh and we detail these for you. We highlight the benefit of holding a ‘Mini-Festival in your local area and detail the great work being done to promote Rugby in the USA. Sadly we note the passing of two Golden Oldies Rugby stalwarts in different parts of the world.The latest ‘branch’ of Golden Oldies Rugby is being established in Chile, South America and we highlight their operation and pending official launchLatest Golden Oldies events are highlighted in our ‘Heard at the bottom of the Ruck’ column and we close in the usual way with a little humour. Read on…

FOLLOW UP FROM OUR EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

Following our hugely successful 2008 Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland last September, we have received a number of stories and news items…McGoldie’s £300.00 goes to Macmillan Cancer CharityThe idea for McGoldie, our Festival mascot came from Dave McDonald, our Golden Oldies Europe Representative. He also devised a “McGoldie look-a-like Competition” for whiskered players who thought they resembled the festival mascot!Back in Scotland, Dave contacted Susan Rose at Slater Menswear Head Office in Glasgow to discuss his idea. Slaters is one of the fastest growing and dynamic retailers in the UK today, specialising in menswear, women's business suits and formal dress hire. Slaters, a Scottish based company, is world famous for having the largest menswear store in the world, as accredited by the Guinness Book of Records.He asked to borrow some kilts so the competitors could wear a kilt to resemble McGoldie and Susan very generously agreed that her Edinburgh Store would supply the kilts along with prizes for the competition…1st – a £300.00 made to measure kilt; 2nd - £200.00 Gift Voucher and a 3rd Prize of £100.00 Voucher! Slaters’ Edinburgh Manager – Peter Chesney supplied the kilts for the competition being held in the Festival Marquee at Murrayfield. Pictured is McGoldie with the winner, from New Zealand next to him. The runner up, from Scotland in the centre and the 3rd place competitor, came from Colorado.
Sadly, during the presentations, one kilt was stolen and despite repeated requests, the kilt was not returned. At the Finale Dinner, a Canadian Mountie friend of Dave’s – Ian Fergusan suggested he could organise a collection from the Festival participants and it was agreed to ‘put the hat round ’and collect the cost of the kilt! Before long, one generous gentleman – Donald B McNicol (above right) of the Forth Valley Fossils, gave the cash for the kilt to Dave McDonald…the rest of the Collection went to the Wooden Spoon Charity. When Dave contacted Peter Chesney to apologise for the loss of the kilt and to offer the £300.00 in payment, he was told to give the money to the Macmillan Cancer Charity.“The benevolent gesture by the Golden Oldies, followed by the generosity of Slaters’ Peter Chesney, just shows that there is a great deal of kind heartedness around us, when it comes to supporting worthwhile charities ” said Dave.It had been hoped to make the presentation in the Slaters' Edinburgh Store but for various reasons, this was postponed and the presentation took place in the Slaters’ Aberdeen Store with - Katie Smart, the Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire Fundraising Manager for Macmillan, Cancer Support receiving the cheque, Billy McAulay – Slaters’ Store Manager, (right) Allen Byars – Slaters Contracts Manager (left) and Dave McDonald.

During the year, a number of Golden Oldies Rugby Festivals will be held throughout Scotland… The 1st Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby Festival takes place in Kirkcaldy on the 19th April and the 2nd Viking Festival is planned for 17th October in Kirkwall. A Festival is being held in Caernarfon, Wales in June, in preparation for 10th European Golden Oldies Rugby Festival being held there in 2010. Details of all these Events can be found on the new Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby Website - www.pitchero.com/clubs/scottishgoldenoldiesrugby

The Spirit of Golden Oldies
Peter Hulthen from the ‘Charters Towers Knackered Bulls’ team in Queensland Australia sent us this photo and commented… ”this probably encompasses the Spirit of the Golden Oldies extremely well. It was sent by Kevin Cook from the Cook Island’s Team. It was taken in Edinburgh after the Knackered Bulls and Cook Islanders played Maebashi Danbo and Ruatoki Mistys. Many thanks for your good work and congratulations on another great festival – thanks for the photo Peter and glad you guys had a great time! – Ed Huge Legacy from Festival for Golden Oldies in ScotlandGolden Oldies International Representative, Europe, Dave McDonald reports… "Perhaps my greatest pleasure was seeing 20 Scottish Teams at the 17th Festival… 18 being newly formed Golden Oldies Clubs and one team reformed up to now. Aberdeen Strollers have been Scotland’s only team at Golden Oldies Festivals since 1985.” (There was a total of 34 European Teams attending ‘Edinburgh’ from as far afield as Russia and Italy – Ed)Murrayfield Undergoes FaceliftThe ‘back pitches’ at Murryfield have been receiving a GBP2 million makeover which will provide three new outer fields and a state-of-the-art artificial pitch at the home of Scottish Rugby. Operation of the new facilities are due to commence in May 2009.“Bet Mark Ella never thought he would be playing with us!”

John Green of the ‘Shoalhaven Rugby Club Lyrebirds, Australia sent us this shot of he and Rob Wilson playing for (on that day) the ‘Sydney Downunders’, in illustrious company (ex ‘Wallaby’ Captain and 2010 Sydney Festival Ambassador, Mark Ella) at the Edinburgh Festival!Festival’s Oldest Player receives AwardOur oldest player at the Festival, 85-year-old Easton Roy was among those honoured at the 2008 Stirling Provost Awards in Edinburgh. Now in their seventh year, the awards recognise local people in several categories including; academic, arts and culture, business, community, international relations, sport and voluntary. Congratulations Easton!‘McGoldie’ has been a busy boy!

McGoldie, our Festival Mascot has been busy in Aberdeen, Scotland where he has been staying as a guest of our European Rep - Dave & Katie McDonald following the 17th World Festival. He was a special guest at the official ‘Christmas Lights Switch On’ in the City and is pictured on board a Float promoting the Scotland v Canada Match which was played as part of the Scottish Rugby Union Autumn Series. (Scotland won 41 - 0!). With McGoldie, are two members of Aberdeen Grammar Youth RFC, Coach Chris Allen and members of Aberdeen Wanderers RFC Minis Squad. (McGoldie will also be in attendance at the very first Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby Mini-Festival on 18 April – Ed)
Scottish Rugby Magazine On-Line


Scottish Club Rugby Union Magazine, ‘The Scrum’ has an online version of it’s regular magazine, packed with the latest news from Scottish grassroots rugby. Visit http://www.scrummagazine.com/ orclick on the magazine illustration.

MUCH TO BENEFIT FROM MINI FESTIVALS

The Secretary/Treasurer of the ‘Collegian Coblers’, Golden Oldies Rugby team from Palmerston North, New Zealand, Charlie Towler wrote to us recently on the benefit of attending and running a Mini-Festival as an option to trying to commit to too many individual fixtures. While relating the ‘challenges’ provided by our modern life-style (competing activities, weekend work and family commitments), the ‘Cobblers’ have benefited from their involvement in local mini-Festivals. Charlie writes…”We have just had great weekend in Wanganui at the CONGO (‘Centre of the North Island Golden Oldies’ mini-Festival, October 2008 – Ed). We, as a club, do not want to lose these opportunities to get together and have a wow of a time, the humour that abounds is just something else and the games are just awesome if played in the right spirit… on the basis of this we are looking to reduce the number of outings during a season and to have several clubs involved in the form of mini-festivals so that we can optimise participation of players and reduce costs.For those clubs struggling to mount a full team every month, the concept of combining with a number of clubs in a weekend of Golden Oldies ‘Fun, Friendship & Fraternity’, annually (or perhaps more) has much going for it – Ed

US RUGBY FOUNDATION MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The US Rugby Football Foundation, under the direction of Executive Director, Brian Vizard is making a real difference in helping to grow our sport in the USA. Activity in 2008 has included…
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Ball Grants to nearly 100 youth, high school and U19 rugby clubs and clinics; elementary, middle and high school physical education programs; boys and girls clubs; and city recreation programs throughout the nation introducing rugby to thousands of children.
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Start-Up Kits to 22 boys and girls high school and U19 programs. These Start-Ups include just about everything a club needs to get up and running, including balls, field flags, training cones, instructional DVDs and books.
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Development Grants to three of America's up and coming high school players with a once in a lifetime opportunity of participating in training courses overseas.
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Six inaugural Kevin Higgins College Scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are playing rugby in college while continuing their education.
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A High Performance Grant to a standout college rugby player who had the opportunity to participate in an intensive three week course abroad.
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Educational Grants to 23 coaches and referees who have taken the steps to develop their on the field skills.
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In the coming months, through the financial support of many, the USRFF plans on issuing the first ever Dennis Storer Memorial Coach’s Award and the Alan Kitchener Memorial Referee’s Award which will be provided to a coach and referee, respectively, to attend coaching and referee courses abroad.

Click on the highlighted links for further background on the great work that the USRFF is doing.

CHRIS ROPITINI

Chris (right) receiving the 'Personality of the Festival' Award at the 2006 Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival in Wellington, New Zealand'
Alister Blair provided this eulogy following the sad passing of Chris Ropitini of the ‘Ancient Mariners’.“It was with great sadness the ‘Ancient Mariners Golden Oldies’ (North Island, New Zealand – Ed) learned of the passing of their chairman Chris Ropitini after bravely battling cancer.Chris was a member of the original Ancient Mariners Rugby Club which was formed in 1986 to attend the Aucklandfestival in 1987. Consisting of serving Royal New Zealand Navy personal as well as ex RNZN matelots the team has been represented at every Golden Oldies World Festival (except Dublin when they attended a mini festival in Fiji) from Auckland in 1987 through to Edinburgh this year. Chris and his wife Uru have been at the forefront of each of these Festivals (except for Perth in 1991 due to motor vehicle accident prior to the Festival). Regrettably, due to his ill health, Chris and his wife were a last minute withdrawal from the Edinburgh Festival. Even though gravely ill, Chris left it until the very last minute to withdraw when it became extremely obvious he would not be able to travel. A true measure of the man.In 1996 Chris took over a chairman of the Ancient Mariners and it was immediately apparent that Chris brought with him the same dedication and attention to detail that he gained as a diving instructor in the RNZN and later as a successful businessman.Chris and Uru were organisers and led from the front with nothing left to chance.Without this commitment many a festival would or could have been a minor disaster.With team members spread far and wide throughout NZ and indeed overseas this time consuming and onerous task was met head on with great enthusiasm and dedication. Indeed this same dedication led to Chris being awarded “Personality of the Festival” at the Wellington Festival in 2006.The respect that Chris held throughout the world of Golden Oldies Rugby was very evident in Edinburgh where numerous friends from around the world enquired after him. All were genuinely shocked to hear of his ill health and subsequent withdrawal from the Festival.Chris’s wife Uru played a huge part in the success of the Ancient Mariners alongside her husband. She too showed the same dedication as Chris and indeed used her skills as a seamstress to make numerous team kits from casual clothing through to playing strips.Chris’s passing has left a huge hole in the Ancient Mariners team which will be extremely hard to fill. We will miss his quiet manner and attention to detail, but most of all we will miss his smiling face and his friendship. No doubt this sentiment will be echoed across the wider Golden Oldies Rugby community.RIP Chris”

VALE CYRIL ANDREWS

Unfortunately we also note the passing of another Golden Oldies stalwart last year, this time from Australia. The President of ‘Queensland XXXX Goldies’, Arthur Eustace-Earle sent us this background to Cyril’s long playing career and involvement with Golden Oldies Rugby…“Former Queensland player and celebrated "Golden Oldie", Cyril Andrews, has died in Brisbane at the age of 92.
Cyril "Fatty" Andrews played as a winger for Queensland between 1936 and 1941 out of the now defunct Eagle Junction club.He played for an Australia XV against the Springboks in 1937 but never reached Test level. He also played for Queensland against the 'Boks in the same year, when the South Africans toured Australia on their way to New Zealand. After his representative career ended Cyril kept playing well into his 90s, as one of the XXXX "Golden Oldies".He attended a number of Golden Oldies Festivals, travelling as far afield as Cape Town in 1998 and the USA in 2005 at the age of 87 to play the game he loved. He was presented with the ‘Spirit of the Festival’ Award at the San Diego gathering.On a recent trip to Norfolk Island to play the island team, the ‘Creaky Old Convicts’, Cyril scored a try under the posts and then stepped up to kick the conversion.

BITS ‘N PIECES
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the ‘Tawa Toads’ from New Zealand are looking for extra team members to join up with them to attend the Cook Islands Golden Oldies Mini-Festival in May/June. Contact Shirley Brosnahan, email sbrosnahan@xtra.co.nz
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The first prize in the ‘McGoldie Look-a-Like’ competition was won by Lloyd McMillan of the ‘Mainland Kiwi's’ New Zealand team, not Tony Dargan of Australia as printed in Edition Four of our Edinburgh Festival’s newspaper, ‘The Late Tackle’. Lloyd is pictured next to McGoldie (see our first article in this newsletter under "McGoldies £300 Goes to McMillan Cancer Charity") but we got the name wrong. Apologies Lloyd.

…and for our non-Japanese readers, this is the link on the Home page of our website (http://www.goldenoldiessports.com/) directing Golden Oldies in Japan to our new Japanese-language pages covering Golden Oldies Rugby history, Laws and the 2010 Sydney World Festival
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does anyone have, collect, or know of postal envelopes with a rugby connection? Our image below shows our Golden Oldies Europe Representative, Dave McDonald at the local ‘Grammar RFC’ Club, passing over two envelopes... 'Aberdeen Strollers RFC' and the 'European Golden Oldies Rugby' issues to friend, Ian Kennaway.if anyone has any such items, please send a copy to -
Ian B Kennaway, 48 Counteswells Road,


Aberdeen AB15 7YE, Scotland or contact Dave for further background (dave.mcdonald@btconnect.com)

GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY CHILE
The Golden Oldies Rugby flag is flying in Chile, South America! Recently the Secretariat sent a set of ‘line flags’ and banners to adorn the ‘Golden Oldies Rugby Chile’ pitch in Santiago. The flags will also support the official launch of Golden Oldies in Chile on 28 March 2009. Special guests will include the President, vice President and Development Director of Federacion Chilena de Rugby (Federation of Chilean Rugby) and Presidents of local Clubs. Jorge Gonzalez (pictured below) will be heading up Golden Oldies in Chile, but the movement was originated by a 36 year old player from Chile Mauricio Diaz, who is now resident in Edinburgh! Mauricio played for the ‘Aberdeen Strollers’ at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival and had been involved in coaching youth rugby in Chile for many years. Since his Festival blogs have appeared, hundreds of Chileans of all ages have signed up to play rugby! Look out for a review of the launch and more background to Golden Oldies Chile in future editions.

HEARD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RUCK
Let us have news of your local event and we will be happy to promote it by listing here each issue.
2009

12 / 13 February
San Diego Invitational. One of America’s largest amateur Tournaments including Masters/Oldies and immediately preceding the San Diego Sevens.Contact: Register online now! Visit SDIRugby.com



14 / 15 February
2009 IRB World Series, USA Sevens Tournament, San Diego, California



20 / 22 February
2009 Bangkok International Rugby 10’s. Includes an ‘Old Boys’ (social level - over 35 years old) competition.Contact: email bangkok_10s_rugby@yahoo.ca or visit http://www.bangkokrugby10s.net/ for more information.



10 / 13 April
Australian Veterans Rugby Festival, Gold Coast, Queensland. Three day Festival, Cocktail Party & Gala BallContact: Arthur Eustace-Earle Email: arhureustaceearle@communities.qld.gov.au



30 April / 03 May
Zululand Golden Eagles National Golden Oldies Tournament, Veldenvlei Sports Complex, Richards Bay, uMhlathuze, Zululand, South AfricaContact: Nick Pullen Email: npullen@richemp.org.za



29 May / 03 June
Golden Oldies Cook Islands Rugby Mini-FestivalContact: Paul Tibbutt, Golden Oldies World Rugby SecretariatEmail: rugby@goldenoldiessports.comWeb: http://www.goldenoldiessports.com/



17 / 19 September
‘TOPSI’ (Top of the South Island Golden Oldies) mini-Festival, Blenheim, New ZealandContact: Paul Dobson Email: dobsonshom@xtra.co.nz



18 / 20 September
6th Annual Cairns Reef Hotel Casino, Over 35’s Rugby Tournament & Festival, Cairns, North Queensland AustraliaContact: Tournament Co-ordinator Email: tournament@cairnsoldcrocs.com.au Web: http://www.cairnsoldcrocs.com.au/



03 / 04 October
Hanmer Springs Golden Oldies Rugby & Netball Festival & Charity Golf Match, Hanmer Springs, South Island, New ZealandContact: Graham Frith Email: longdropprod@paradise.net.nz



2010

26 September / 03 October
Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival, Sydney, AustraliaContact: Paul Tibbutt, Golden Oldies World Rugby SecretariatEmail: rugby@goldenoldiessports.comWeb: http://www.goldenoldiessports.com/

THE LAST WORD
Why are a ‘wise man’ and a ‘wise guy’ opposites?
IT’S A WRAP
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Yours in Rugby!
Paul TibbuttGolden Oldies World Rugby Secretariat

January 2009






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