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WEDNESDAY, 9 JANUARY 2008

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WORLD SIGNS UP FOR BIGGEST RUGBY FESTIVAL AS SCOTS MAKE IT 100

With seven months still to go 100 rugby teams from around the world have signed up for the 17th Air New Zealand Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival, which will be staged in Edinburgh in September this year.

Gavin Hastings, Scotland’s all-time Rugby World Cup record point scorer and Ambassador of the 2008 Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival said: “We set a target of 150 teams coming to Edinburgh in September, so reaching 100 entries this early on is great news. Edinburgh is well on track for delivering the world’s biggest rugby festival.”

“We’ve got teams coming from Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Cook Islands, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland and USA.  We have also had a large number of enquiries from elsewhere including across the UK, Andorra and even Trinidad and Tobago!” 

“Golden Oldies Festival regulars Aberdeen Strollers were the first Scottish team to sign up, but we want more rugby enthusiasts from across the country to enter to add the Scottish flavour to this truly international festival of rugby.”

Responding to this call new Scottish club Forth Valley Fossils has signed up and become the 100th club registered. Pulling players from all clubs in the Forth Valley area, Stirling County, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Linlithgow, Hillfoots/Alloa, Strathendrick and some from out with the area, the Fossil’s oldest player is 55.

Club President Donald McNicol said: “I am delighted that Forth Valley Fossils are the 100th team to enter the Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival. We are looking forward to representing Scotland and to hosting and playing teams from across the globe. The festival has led to much interest in Golden Oldies rugby and there is even talk of us doing some training. In all seriousness though, we would like to think that our participation will also stimulate and lead to many more Scottish Clubs entering.”

The biennial Golden Oldies Festival, which will celebrate its 30 year anniversary in 2008, provides an opportunity for rugby enthusiasts (over the age of 35 years) to keep up levels of fitness while retaining and growing friendships. Focusing on ‘Fun, Friendship and Fraternity’, this will be the first time that the Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival has come to Scotland, and only the fourth time it has visited Europe in the history of the event.

Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland, the national events agency, said: “The Golden Oldies Festival is renowned throughout the world and appeals to a wide audience by combining a rugby festival with a vibrant and friendly party atmosphere.”

“We are delighted that Edinburgh, with its strong rugby heritage, is already attracting a sizeable amount of international teams, and we expect many more teams to join the action by the time the Festival starts.”

The week long festival will be held from 1 – 8 September 2008  and is expected to generate more than £4 million for the economy.

For more information please contact:

Leon Thompson, EventScotland
0131 472 2312 / 07778 163 085
leon.thompson@eventscotland.org

or

Scott Hastings
PLATINUM ONE (Scotland) Ltd
Direct Dial Number: 0131 226 0364

For more information on the Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival please visit: www.goldenoldiessports.com

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Eligibility and Costs

To be eligible for the Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival the only requirement is that you are over the age of 35 years of age. Whilst international guests have a package that includes transport and accommodation, a separate package has been put together for ‘locals’ and is available to anyone who lives in Scotland.

For just £55 per player (plus team entry fee) teams from anywhere in Scotland can sign up to the local package which includes: three days of rugby , the Opening Ceremony followed by a Parade of Nations and an invitation to the Official Welcome Party PLUS the chance to meet and play rugby with similar-minded people from around the world.

2. Golden Oldies Local Organising Committee

EventScotland, the national events agency is leading the Local Organising Committee which consists of City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, VisitScotland, Edinburgh Convention Bureau and the Scottish Rugby Union.

3. Air New Zealand Golden Oldies Festivals

Friendships made in sport are both endearing and enduring. The Golden Oldies Movement for Rugby, Cricket, Field Hockey, Netball and Football provides the perfect opportunity to retain and grow those bonds. The Golden Oldies sporting movement ensures you can continue playing your favourite sport after reaching 35 years of age in a way that gives absolute enjoyment on and off the field or court and without the stress. You can remain active and participate without suffering the pains of serious competition but at the same time play to the best of your ability and enjoy it.