Wellington.

WELLINGTON WILL BE IMPRESSIVE IN 2006!

Lindsay Parke Golden Oldies Rugby New Zealand Chairman gave us his thoughts after joining our assessment team for Wellington as the next possible World Festival venue.

"In November last year I had the privilege of being one of a group who did a site inspection of the various regions bidding for the 2006 International Golden Oldies Rugby Festival - Wellington being one of those regions.

On arrival in Wellington we were met by a very enthusiastic group representing the City Council, the Tourist Corporation and Wellington Rugby, who were all very keen to show us their bid proposal, the city of Wellington and the proposed rugby venues.

Although I have a strong interest in the Landed Package options of any bid proposition, primarily my input is the Ground Package for the rugby programme of each bid.

Wellington has opted to use the "Rugby Club" infrastructure for 2006 using three of the top rugby clubs in the region who all have the necessary facilities to cater for the onslaught of Golden Oldies rugby personnel who will become part of their respective clubs over festival week. They all have an adaquate number of playing fields to cater for the masses, plenty of changing and showering facilities ready to walk into - everything is already there. Some of these rugby clubs are among the oldest in the country and are steeped in tradition.

All are only a short drive from downtown Wellington where all the Golden Oldies accommodation will be housed. All these clubs will be ready with their own particular theme for Golden Oldies during Festival Week - it will be a "club rugby" mans paradise. Two of the main rugby men involved in the Wellington Festival organising team are the Festival Director, Steve Dunbar who has become renowned for his running and handling of the AXA Wellington 7's International programme, and Festival Ambassador, Andy Leslie, who should need no introduction to guys of Golden Oldies age, as Andy was a very fine Wellington and All Black No.8, and All Black Captain during the 70's and is currently President of the Wellington Rugby Football Union.

I left Wellington that day in November very impressed with what I had witnessed and it really came as no surprise when Wellington was named the "Host Venue" for the 2006 International Golden Oldies Rugby Festival."

For more information about Golden Oldies please write, call, fax or email:

Australian Chairman: Allan Forno
Mailing Address: PO Box 2717, Carlingford, NSW 2118, Australia
Phone: +61 2 9899 8799
Email: allan@argorugby.com.au