The Scotland trip
will soon be upon us and we've provided all the details of the
festival and pre-tour organised by the Gordon Stags to whet your
whistle.
We've managed to
get a great deal with
International Sports Tours
that not only gives us an extra night on the pre tour but also
reduces the cost from the originally quoted $5,900 to give everyone
more bang for their buck, here's the details;
AUD$5,750 -
THE WORKS!!
Per Person Twin Share. Festival and the 8 Day/7 Night Pre-Tour including Air Fares
(excluding taxes),
Accommodation and the Festival Costs.
AUD$2,450
-
Festival only
Per
Person Twin Share. Includes
Accommodation and the Festival Costs. Perfect
for those who want to organise their own travel and tours,
especially if you're lucky enough to be able to cash in frequent
flyers points.
An additional single supplement does apply for those who
don't want to share.
If you'd like to join us at the Festival and on the Pre-Tour
Download a Gordon Stags registration form here
For further information contact John Finch via our
Contacts Page or call 9908 4382 and get on board for Scotland.
Reprinted with thanks from
www.goldenoldiessports.com
If there's a reason to gather Rugby
people together the Scots will turn it into a great celebration. You
and your team are invited to join them from 1 - 8 September 2008 at
the Air New Zealand Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival.
Keeping
to tradition, Golden Oldies will be coming together again for the
17th gala event, this time in Edinburgh, the 'world's festival
capital'. The Scottish Rugby Union is welcoming and Scotland's famed
hospitality awaits you.
The
Golden Oldies Secretariat aims for greener pastures with its two-yearly
World Festivals and this is Scotland's first time to host the event. Event
Scotland and partners have worked hard to plan a Festival which celebrates
the spirit of Golden Oldies Rugby. The world-class facilities and expertise
are already in place.
Some of the features are:
-
The Opening Ceremony will be
held at Edinburgh Castle
-
Murrayfield will be the heart
of the Rugby - a truly inspiring location
-
The "World's Biggest
Clubhouse" will be created at Murrayfield
-
The Festival packages give you
a full week in this dynamic city - 7 nights accommodation, breakfasts
included
-
The programme will include a
Welcome Party, a "Highland Fling" picnic day and a Grand Finale Dinner
-
Edinburgh and Murrayfield have
been recommended for a Golden Oldies Festival by Andy Irvine, Todd
Blackadder, Christophe Dominici, Christian Cullen and Gavin Hastings among
many
-
Edinburgh has a strong Rugby
heritage
-
Edinburgh is Europe's festival
capital
-
Edinburgh has more restaurants
per head of population than any other British city
-
Edinburgh is the gateway to
the rest of beautiful Scotland, UK and Europe
The warmest of Scottish welcomes and hospitality awaits
you. Unquestionably the choice for 2008 is one of the most exciting settings
ever for a Golden Oldies Rugby Festival.
Monday 01 September. The Welcome Party on The
Meadows, Edinburgh.
The Welcome Party for the 17th Golden Oldies World Rugby
Festival will commence at the end of one the most (if not THE most)
spectacular March Pasts in the history of Golden Oldies Rugby. Starting out
on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle for Welcome speeches, the groups will
be led by a pipe band down The Royal Mile before turning down George Bridge
and walking down to the Meadows, a large city park below the Royal
Mile. Here, the Welcome Party will commence in a tented village consisting
of a vast Circus Tent with other marquees off the side - all creating a
wonderful party atmosphere.
Open exclusively to Golden Oldies teams, the Welcome
Party will run for three hours with finger food and unlimited beer, wine and
soft drinks throughout. The main stage in the 'big top' will have constant
entertainment, with bands and acts which will leave you in no doubt that you
are in Scotland.
Wednesday 03 September. The Golden Oldies Highland Fling - A Day Out at
Ratho.
The Climbing Centre at Ratho is not only built of the
highest quality materials but is also an extraordinary building wrapped
around the face of an old stone quarry. The Day Out for all Golden Oldies
teams will commence here at lunch time and will run well into the afternoon.
The building of the Climbing Centre itself was started by
a climbing enthusiast in 2000 and only completed in 2004. Sadly the dream
for this climber soon turned into a nightmare when the company running the
centre went into administration. Luckily for the people of Edinburgh though,
the local council took over the running of the centre and thus preserved it
for us all.
The Highland Fling - A Day Out at Ratho will be 'a taste
of Scotland'. Participants are invited to join us in this unique setting for
an afternoon filled with traditional and non-traditional Scottish
fun. Become part of a 'clan', watch some of the traditional Highland Games,
and enjoy the ceilidh and crafts.
Lunch will be provided for all and there will be four
hours of unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks to stave off any potential
dehydrations.
Sunday 07 September. The Final Dinner in the Highland Hall at Ingliston.
The Final Dinner, with up to 5500 people able to be
seated, will be held in the Highland Hall at the Royal Highland Centre,
Ingliston, the home of the annual Royal Highland Show.
This last night of the Festival will be a grand affair
with a wonderful three course dinner; beer, wine and soft drinks and music
and dancing throughout. It is also the time for the Festival Awards and
after a week of getting the hang of all things Scottish, tonight, there will
be an opportunity for everyone to put on their dancing shoes, get on the
dance floor - and learn how to 'Strip the Willow'. It will be a great end to
a great week.
NB: All functions and inclusions
are subject to change.
View from Edinburgh Castle
Murrayfield, the world-class rugby
stadium will be at the heart of the Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival in
2008.
Renowned Scottish hospitality is only one of the
advantages there. As the largest sports stadium in Scotland, not only can
Murrayfield boast unsurpassed facilities for hosting world-class rugby
matches but the electric spine-tingling atmosphere of a game is enough to
rival any other sporting venue.
Up to 15 pitches will be available for playing during the
Festival at Murrayfield and close-by Saughton Park. These combined with the
proximity of the "World's Biggest Clubhouse" enables us to provide a single
centre for rugby and entertainment during the Festival. If more pitches are
needed the facilities at nearby Ferry Road where the first-ever Test Match
between New Zealand and Scotland was played, will be available for us.
Murrayfield's changing facilities (and all other
facilities) will be available to us including the international visitors'
changing room which has been graced by many of the greatest legends of the
game. The hallowed turf has felt the tread of Don Clark and Jonah Lomu, Ken
Catchpole and David Campese, Frik du Preez and Francois Pienaar, JPR
Williams and Ieuan Evans, Willie-John Mc Bride and Keith Wood, Jean Pierre
Rives and Abdul Benazzi, Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio.
As part of the trip to Scotland the Stags have, in
conjunction with
International Sports Tours, organised
an 8 Day/7 Night pre-tour of England and Scotland. It's a great way to see some of
the countryside and enjoy the company of your fellow travellers before the
week of Rugby starts in earnest.
Don't miss out on this
great opportunity to combine sightseeing and playing Rugby.
This is sure to be the
trip of a lifetime. wear the Gordon Tartan proudly in Edinburgh 2008!
Tour Features
Excursions & Sights
Tour London and
ride The London Eye
See Oxford's
University buildings
See the Royal
Shakespeare Theatre and the church where the bard lies buried
See Anne
Hathaway's thatched cottage in Shottery
See York Minster,
City Walls & walk down the medieval 'Shambles'
Daylight cruise on
Lake Windermere
Visit Kelvingrove
Museum
Cruise on Loch
Lomond and tour the Oban distillery
Travel via
Glencoe, visit Fort William and see Ben Nevis
Tour Ben Nevis
Distillery and stop at Loch Ness on the way to Inverness
Visit St Andrews -
the home of golf
Scenic drives
through the Cotswolds, Yorkshire Dales, Lake District,
Loch Lomond,
Glencoe, Loch Ness
Guided City Tours
Tours of
Oxford, Stratford, York & Glasgow
First Class Services
Professional
Tour Director to escort you
Luxury
air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
