World's Biggest Rugby Festival
The 22nd World Masters Rugby Festival to be staged in Christchurch, New Zealand between April 22 - 29, 2018. The festival is part of a wide celebration of international sport including +35 and +45 year old participants.
Festival Information
The 22nd World Masters Rugby Festival to be staged in Christchurch, New Zealand between April 22 - 29, 2018. Supported by the Canterbury Rugby Association, Christchurch City Council and the New Zealand Government, the Festival is part of a wide celebration of international sport including +35 and +45 year old participants.
Taking part in the Festival alongside the 110+ teams from all parts of the Rugby world currently entered, is the Southbridge Rugby Club where All Black great Daniel Carter is still a member.
Master’s Rugby will be making its second visit to Christchurch for the Christchurch Casino Golden Oldies Sports Celebration 2018. The Masters/Golden Oldies Rugby Festival was previously held in the city in 1995 and was one of the biggest Festivals in Masters Rugby history.
It's no surprise that we should return, after all Christchurch is one of the great rugby hubs of the world. Numerous All Blacks have come out of the region including the recently-retired, two-time Rugby World Cup winning captain Richie McCaw, and the greatest points scorer in international rugby, Dan Carter.
Christchurch is also home of the famed Super Rugby side, the Canterbury Crusaders. Masters/Golden Oldies participants visiting the city for the Festival may well have the chance to see the Crusaders in action as part of their stay.
For those who may find the 35+ Presidents Grade a little competitive and too strenuous the Festival offers the usual Masters playing options based on age, agility, experience and ability-semi-competitive; social A, B and C with further grading by age groups.
Travel to New Zealand With award winning Air New Zealand or United Airlines,Easier than many may anticipate, Red-Eye direct flights from Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston and New Zealanders are waiting to provide a memorable experience once teams are here.
Additional touring is easily arranged with additional games and rugby experiences available including Club visits, meeting local players and coaches and enjoying the atmosphere of rugby in New Zealand.
Past History
Many outstanding friendships have been formed over the years through the Festivals. The first Festival was held in Auckland in 1979 but has subsequently been hosted in Long Beach (California), London, Sydney, Cape Town, Toulouse, Vancouver, Dublin, Mar del Plata, Adelaide, Perth and Cardiff in 2016.
Check out our teams entered page to see who will be joining you in Christchurch. Their team names say a lot about the fun to be had. https://christchurchgoldenoldies.com/sports/rugby/teams-entered/
We are delighted to introduce Sir Graham Henry, as the 2018 Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival Ambassador.
Sir Graham Henry was the coach of the All Blacks when they won the Rugby World Cup for the second time in 2011 and had a long pedigree in coaching before that.
Born in Canterbury, Graham played rugby for the province, as well as representing Otago and Canterbury in cricket. But it was in coaching that he made his biggest impact. Starting out in club coaching he began his climb up the ranks when taking on the New Zealand Schoolboys in the early 1980s and then was appointed Auckland coach in 1992, a position he held until 1997. When rugby went professional in 1996 he also coached the Blues who won the Super Rugby title in 1996 and 1997.
He left New Zealand in 1998 to take up the position of Wales coach who achieved 11 consecutive wins in 1999. Selected as British and Irish Lions coach for their 2001 tour to Australia, he then had one more season with Wales. Following his return to New Zealand renewed his contact with the Blues working as defence coach in the side that won the 2003 Super 12 title.
Bust out your Boots and Join me in April 2018 for the Masters/Golden Oldies Rugby Festival.
In Christchurch Home of the 2017 Super Rugby Champions “Crusaders”
Information call or e-mail Lloyd +1 415 999 5037 Lloyd@govsl.com