host country) did not creacted d at all ! End of January 2009 EGOR and FIRA/AER decided to cancell this event and to inform all rugby unions/federations (IRB and FIRA/AER members), as well as EGOR members and individu- al persons that showed interest that this Event takes place. The past corresponence and quite a lot of contacts with diffe- rent countries had shown that the reasons for not taking part are varying from the demand that all National team´s costs should be paid by the Organisers up to the lack of the finance and interest.<br><br> One of the reasons of failure may be cthe pro- duct of the confrontation and very different attitude d between professionalism and amateurism in our sport. The cnon-writ- ten d law in Veteran rugby, worldwide, is that each participant bears all his costs when taking part at any kind of Golden Oldies Rugby events. On the other hand former rugby interna- tionals when invited to play on various occassions got all costs paid!<br><br> So nothing has been changed in attitude since they stop- ped being active. This fact, together with the lack of interest ccaused d the failu- re of this first attempt. One of the main EGOR aims, since its foundation in 2002, is to get the recognition for Golden Oldies 3 Veterans in the respec- tive rugby countries, recognition that will allow them to be organised as the part of existing rugby unions/federations and so as Golden Oldies players to cremain active in rugby outside the rugby field d&& as children/youth coaches, administra- tors, officials, donators, sponsors, spectators etc....<br><br> The failure of the 1 st Rugby Legends Cup shows how far we are from this aim and how much work still has to be invested by various rugby organisations and individuals........ Marko Protega Publisher: EGOR Committee · Editor: Marko Protega (Heidelberg) · Lector: Bill Cranston (London) Printed in Germany by BAIER DIGITALDRUCK Heidelberg · Designed by Philipp Emenet www.europeangoldenoldiesrugby.com The official bulletin of EUROPEAN GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY It took 125 years since the foundation of Scottish Rugby Union in 1873 to form the Veteran Rugby Organisation 3 GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY SCOTLAND - as the first one among the Home Unions. Although GO Rugby activities are existing for more decades, as example the Aberdeen Strollers as the only Scottish active veteran team that participated European and World festivals, last year was a cturning point d in Scottish Rugby history.<br><br> Following the 17th World GOR Festival held in Edinburgh the Open Meeting of Scottish Rugby Veterans took place at Murrayfield on October 18th 2008. Chaired by SRU President Jim Stevenson the representatives of 16 GOR teams decided to form Golden Oldies Rugby Scot- land. It was agreed that Area Representatives should contact all golden oldies teams in their Region and generate games...also it was agreed that the first Scottish GOR Festival will take place in April 2009 (for more details see page 3).<br><br> Further on was accepted to develop enthusiasm for participation in any Scottish GOR event and future European and World GOR festivals. On May 17th in Perthshire the Innaugural General Meeting of Scottish Golden Oldies Rugby took place, chaired again by SRU President Jim Stevenson ( elected for the first Honorary President), to formalise the Organisation and plane for future events and festivals. Dave McDo- nald, the European Golden Oldies Rugby (EGOR) President and EGOR Scottish Representative was elected for the first Golden Oldies Rugby Scotland President - he was delighted with the success of the whole action: cPrior to the World Festival I circulated all the Scottish participating clubs/teams with a questiona- ry seeking their opinions and thoughts, with a view to hold a Meeting soon after the Edinburgh Festival to explore the long term legacy of the event and how to progress and promote GOR in Scotland.<br><br> I am deligh- ted with the outcome.... d The first meeting held at Murrayfield, as well as the sceond one in Pertshire was very promising, the start has been made with the first Scottish GO Rugby Festival as the part of EGOR Series 2009.....what now cremains d is to keep on with the initial enthusiasm... and to support local and European Golden Oldies Rugby development. cThe Scottish Example d is the result of the hard work of EGOR Commitee and specially of its President Dave McDonald (Aberdeen) 3 example to be followed by other Home Unions.........<br><br> Welsh Rugby Union could be the next one to form Veteran organisation 3 Wales (Caernarfon) is hosting the 10th European Festival in June 2010... Issue 19 June 2009 E.G.O.R. Newsletter OTHER HOME UNIONS TO FOLLOW THE SCOTLAND EXAMPLE 1 st SPLIT GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY FESTIVAL 35 th Anniversary of Ragbi 9 59 and 50 th Anniversary of Nada RFC Split Split (Croatia), June 19-20 th contact: ragbiveteran@st.t-com.hr Sinisa Tartaglia Delegates at the Open Meeting of Scottish Rugby Veterans at Murrayfield eOld Pumas c are inviting the Europeans...<br><br> ARGENTINA OLDIES FESTIVAL 2009 November, Mar del Plata More information at www.oldiesfestival.com.ar 2 GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY IN EUROPE 3 E.G.O.R. SERIES 2009 Greece THE FIRST ATHENS GOLDEN OLDIES FESTIVAL Golden Oldies Rugby has a longer tradition in Greece as the contest game, ATHENS SPARTANS RFC, led by President Ted Cypiot, are existing more than two decades and had participated among various GOR events also European Festi- vals in 1994 (Heidelberg) and 1998 (Aberdeen). This May the 1st they suceeded to organize the first ever GO Rugby event in Greece.<br><br> Ted Cypiot, who is also Greeks EGOR Representative, with his organisational team attracted well known golden oldies teams from Switzerland and Israel to participate: Swiss Gnomes with Over 50 and cSpring Cows d teams from Zurich, The Elders of Zion from Tel Aviv, Attica Springboks Vets and of course two Athens Spartans teams. Festival games took place at the picturesque cSweet Water d playing field outside Athens and the cclosing d match of over 50´s teams from Zurich and Athens cfired the audience d with proper golden oldies rugby, among them at most the am bassador of Israel, Mr. Ali Yahya.<br><br> The special importance to this first ever GOR event in Greece was given by European Golden Oldies Rugby organisation 3 three Committee members were present in Athens 3 Robert Joel Dean (Swit- zerland), Edwin Freedman (Israel) and Marko Protega (Germany). Among different Festival Awards three of them drew the attention of the audi - ence and the players at most: The ugliset Front Row 3 combined of the players from Athens Spartans and Elders of Zion Kirk O´Connor Cup that went to Over 50´s Team from Zurich The Oldest Festival Player was Colin Brown (73) from Swiss Gnomes Elders of Zion (Tel Aviv) Attica Springboks Vets (green jerseys) with Athens Spartans (under 49) Athens Saprtans Over 50´s Swiss Gnomes (Zurich) Over 50´s The three oldest players of the Festival, (from left to right) Martin Albrecht (59), Colin Brown (73), Robert Deau (72) Colin Brown (Swiss Gnomes) in eaction c 13 th PORTO OLD GREENS FESTIVAL Porto (Portugal), June 20-21 st Contact: Jose.Belo@afaplan.com José Filipe Belo MEMORIAL TEGHINI Turriaco (Italy), June 20 th Contact: derosastef@gmail.com Stefano di Rosa GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY IN EUROPE 3 E.G.O.R. SERIES 2009 3 Garryowen FC Veteran 3 Fallen Stars Festival (Limerick, Ireland) www.garryowenrugby.com cDie Boskokken d Huxley Old Boys Festival (Hilversum, Netherlands) www.rugbyclubhilversum.nl Juromenha Oldies Festival Porto da Ravessa (Juromenha, Portugal) www.crugbyjuromenha.com UFAR National Tournament (La Teste de Buch, France) www.ufar.fr More about other European GOR festivals on the website: Havirov Turkey Tournament (Havirov, Czech Republic) www.havirov.rugby-cz.com International Festival cCita di Rovigo d (Rovigo, Italy) www.oldrugbyrovigo.it International Festival Rugby Vets 3 BP GAS (Évora, Portugal) www.crevora.net or www.fpr.pt Scotland THE FIRST SCOTTISH GOLDEN OLDIES FESTIVAL This Innaugural GOR event was held on April 19th at Perth Rugby Club (North Inch) with the participation of 14 teams.<br><br> Jin Steve nson, Scottish Rugby Union President, making the experience as the player in Edinburgh World Festival have sent a message to Perth : d I am sur e this year Innaugural Scottish Golden Oldies Festival will be no different........I look forward to seing and playing against you there ! d Lawson Doe, the President of Pertshire RFC welcomed the participants with the words: dIt is a huge honour to be hosting this fi rst Scottish GOR event at North Inch and you can be rest assured that we aim to make it a day to remember for all those who are taking part and for those rai- sing the noice levels on the sidelines with their generous support. c On the one of the hottest April days on record, around 300 Rugby Folk enjoyed the games, not only of those seasoned golden oldi es teams as Zingari from Kirkcaldy and Strollers from Abedeen, but also from those that made their cnew experience d.<br><br> A big Thank You goes to the Famous Grouse and Highland Spring, Premmier Inns and specially to the organising team headed by An dy Cum- mins, to the Refs, Medics and Physios. Among the Festival Awards, sponsored by Air New Zealand GOR, the cmost precious d were those to the Oldest Player 3 Fred Crowe ( 71), Strattmore Griffons and the Festival Personality Award 3 Andy Goudie, Pertshire RFC. The 2nd Scottish Golden Oldies Festival in 2010 would be awarded again to Pertshire as it coincides with the 800th City Celebra tion and the big support is expected from the Council and other Agencies........if selected.<br><br> Aberdeen Strollers (yellow jerseys) Post Match v. New Zealand Opposition at Edinburgh World Festival 4 GOLDEN OLDIES RUGBY IN EUROPE 3 E.G.O.R. SERIES 2009 Spain ELX PATRIMONI DE LA HUMANITAT Golden Oldies Festival For the first time ever one Romanian team took part at the European Golden Oldies Rugby event.<br><br> Since 2004 Alicante is not only magic attraction for the tourists from all over the world but it is also the cmeeting point d for rugby veterans. Veteranos Elche C.R.U. with its oldies festival attracts always new euro- pean teams to come and play under the motto Fun, Friendship & Fraternity.<br><br> Tomas Espinosa Lidon, Club President welcomed this year the first ever GOR team from Romania 3 Dracula Old Boys, from Bucaresti. Andrei Petrescu, the Team Manager and Ioan Gheorghiescu Romanian EGOR Representative, two active members of European Golden Oldies Rugby succeeded to form a club with quite a number of former Romanian internationals and so to crestart the rugby activities d, this time participating festival in Spain. Andrei Petrescu an d his team mates experienced this first step under the sunshine of Alicante and with the unforgotable cthird halftimes d will be the best ambassa dors of the golden oldies rugby spirit.<br><br> The csecond step d will be surely the participation at 10th European Festival in Wales next year... Dracula Old Boys (blue-yellow jerseys) with the hosts of Elche Veterans Romanian and Spanish captains exchanging teams souveniers Elche C.R.U. Veterans organised succesfully their second Festival 5 th CHALLENGE MARCELLO RIDOLFI Walferdange (Luxembourg), June 27-28 th Contact: mlanier@namsa.nato.int Michel Lanier 2 nd BRAV INTERNATIONAL VETERANS TOURNAMENT Albena (Bulgaria), June 29-30 th Contact: g.popov@einet.bg Gancho Popov<br><br>

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