RWC encouraging grass roots rugby

video here - http://www.3news.co.nz/RWC-encouraging-grass-roots-rugby/tabid/317/articleID/226279/Default.aspx

After the last Rugby World Cup in 2007, the number of people playing the game in host nation France leapt by 30 percent.
So, a programme is underway here to maximise the long-term benefits of hosting this RWC and it is luring all sorts from as far afield as Milwaukee.
The video shows this is the closest the Johnsonville Cripples get to a warm-up and it is much the same for their American opposition.
It is not the RWC and the horse-poo-dotted paddock bares little resemblance to Eden Park.
But it is grassroots Kiwi footie at its best and it is on show for international visitors and to boost interest here in New Zealand.
Cripples captain Perry ‘The Poo’ Barber says it is not often their competition can play in an environment like they are.
“We've a lot of kids, a lot of families, lot of horses, lot of kids and bikes and stuff cruising round.”
It is the Milwaukee team's third game of its tour their but first out in the sticks.
It is not just the tiny goalposts, there is also remnants of pony club to contend with and anyone who outruns the try zone risks ending up in the drink.
There is one other point of difference here – Sarah Thomas was ‘man of the match’ in their opening game.
“I took out one of their old boys a few times, I think they've been ribbing him a lot.”
Former All Black great Andy Leslie is one of several big names driving the legacy programme.
“If this tournament encourages two or three kids to kick a ball around, whatever the shape of the ball, that's great.”
He says things have changed since his day.
“There are wonderful opportunities, I would have loved to have played the game and got paid for m hobby.”
But for this lot, just rewards will be a couple of beers and a hangi down the road in a woolshed.
3 News


Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/RWC-encouraging-grass-roots-rugby/tabid/1534/articleID/226279/Default.aspx#ixzz1aNpofsYJ

to watch the usa vs russia game
go to http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/video/index.html
go to thursday 15/09 and click on replay to watch the entire game

at the usa vs russia game

added new items to post and links to the pics.
hope you liked it.  It was a great time
Wayne

Sunday up and ready to go by 6.  Then it was the many plane rides home (4) and a bus ride home.  Our bus broke down on the wi/il border and we had to wait till another bus pick us up.  Finally got home at 8pm to unload and eat

here are the pics from my cell phone.  Didn't turn out too bad
http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%20camera/

On sat ready be 8 for breakfast and at 9 we left for city tour.  Got to see the steepest road in the world, otago gardens, the train station and other points of interest.  We then went to the speights brewer for a tour and to taste some of the suds that they make.  Lunch of cause was at the speights ale house next door.  Then we walked and shopped back to the hotel for an hour of sleep before the night game at the new stadium in dunedin england vs romania.  It was a one side affair.  We then left the stadium and headed to a rugby clubhouse by our hotel to watch the france vs all blacks match.  After the match it was home and packing as we were leaving in the morning.  Sunday we were leaving at 6 and we also lost an hour of sleep due to daylight savings time.

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_24/

Fri was were off to the airport to fly to dunedin.  We had lunch on the ocean and got to see tindall and zara eating at a restruant.  Then it was off to our hotel by the university.  We then had to get ready for our game at green island rfc.  We had to get a few guys from them as we now had lost about 8 people from our tour (return home).  It was a good battle with their forwards beating on us and our young backs out running them.  Afterwards they had an above ground hangui for us.  The food was really good and we eat and drank while watching the us vs australia.  Then it was home to the hotel and to bed.

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_23/