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/

Thurs was a free day and we walked around the city of christchurch going to the musuem, botainical gardens and viewing the devistation.  Lots of buildings were wrecked and need to be taken down.  Various building were in different stages of being repaired.  Dinner was again at the ale house as there was not very many things open in the downtown area due to the earthquake.

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_22/

Weds we headed to christcurch which was 5 hours away.  We stopped at various places to take in the scenery and breaks.  We arrived at christchurch and got to see some of the earthquake damage to the city.  Dinner was speights ale house next to our hotel rooms.  We had a few all blacks show up for dinner.
http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_21/

A stop at the East Coast town of Kaikoura.   Dinner this evening with former All Black front rower Bill Bush in attendance and accommodation at the Bealey’s Hotel owned by former All Black Captain and President of the NZRU, Tane Norton

Tues we were off to nelson for shopping and the afternoon game of italy vs russia.  Weather was decent but cool when the sun went down.  Italy won but russia  scored a few tries on them.  Then it was a back to marlbourgh.  Tomorrow we head for christchurch.
http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_20/

Travel into Nelson. Lunch at the ‘Honest Lawyer’ before transferring to RWC game: Italy v Russia – Trafalgar Park, Nelson

Monday was an early one as we had to catch the ferry across to the south island.  3 hours later we were in picton/marlbourgh on the south island.  We went straight to a winery for a sample.  Lunch was at another winery.  After lunch it was to another winery where it hailed while we were sampling.  Then it was to our villa's for 2 nights.  We stopped at a grocery store and got food and beer for a cookout.  Every apt would make a dish to pass and we made steaks, lamb, salmon and shrimp
http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_19/

3 hour Cook Strait and the Marlborough Sounds cruise. Arriving in Picton and transferring to ‘Wine Country’ with a day of tasting and cuisine - 3 wineries and lunch

due to the lack of internet / paying for internet I have been unable to update my blog.  Once I get back I will update the blog and upload the pics

The next morning was rough.  The late nights and early mornings were taking its toll.  Lots of people stayed at the hotel to get some more sleep.  We decided to see some things of wellington.  Since it was raining we went to the musuem for the day.  Really nice musuem and we got to watch some maori dancing.  I grabbed some red bull and we headed to back to the hotel to get our rugby gear and head to the game.  Johnsonville was having an old fashion game where they go to a pasture and setup up a field to play on.  They had a bar and a hangi there for the after game drink and food.  The sun came out and it ended up being a great day and exprience!
After the game we back to the hotel for a shower and some down time.  We later went down to the pub for a drink and to watch the france vs canada game. 
http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_18/

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/5639993/Cripples-ready-for-sheep-paddock-clash

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/off-the-field/5646054/Cripples-get-one-over-Americans

We took the scenic route from new plymouth in Palmerston North.  Stopping at the local lawn bowling for a game and lunch.  From there we got into wellington and our hotel.  We changed and headed to the stadium for sa vs fiji which ended up a blowout for sa.  We stayed out for few drinks after the game and to watch australia vs ireland at an irish bar.  Ireland won and the bar was rocking!

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_17/

Morning was a free day.  After breakfast we wandering along the waterfront watching the tasman sea crashes into the  rocks.  Downtown we looked for deals and gifts for back home.  At noon we were to be back as some members of the usa team were coming to visit - Mike McDonald, Nic Johnson, and Tim Usasz.  They talk with us for an hour.  We got to ask them questions and then take photos.  After their visit we got a kaba for lunch.  Had to be back at 4 as we were leaving for our game at 4:30.  The game was a tough one.  We score a few times but they had better backs and when we lost the ball they were off and running.  2 guys from the USA team showed up the match - Matekitonga Moeakiola and Andrew Suniula.  The social was not bad.  Had a few beers and some finger food that they put out.  Then we watcht the nz vs japan game.  It was a blowout but japan did score a nice try.  Off the bed as we are on the road at 7:45 tomorrow for wellington.

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%209_16/

Thurs was a long ride on the bus to new plymouth.  We took the scenic route stoping piopio for break.  Lunch was   at Awakino Pub, getting a taste of the silver fish
pulled into new plymouth and unloaded at our hotel.  Then it was off to the new plymouth old boys clubhouse for a look and some dinner before the game.  The club then took us to the taranaki stadium - US vs russia.
We had great seats - 3 rows from the field and cheered on the eagles to victory.
Then it was back to the hotel for drink and off to bed.  Got a game tomorrow afternoon.

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%20day%206/

day 5
Wed morning was free till noon.  Went shopping around looking for items.  Return at noon to have lunch at the Kahukura Rugby club house.  Then it was off to the samoa vs namibia  Score was 49 to 12.  Back to the club house to watch rugby and drink $4 drinks.  Went and had a curry after the canada game.  After dinner it was back to the club house to watch the final 10 minutes of the scotland game.  Tomorrow its off to plymouth and the us vs russia game.
http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%205/

day 3
from massey to hamilton.  First we stopped at a private museum with loads of pics, posters and rugby items – Host Roy Skedgwell.  Had a meal there and then back on the bus.  Unloaded at our hotel in Hamilton.  I have relatives in nz and had told them that I would be in Hamilton and could we get together.  Called Valarie and she was able to pick us up and drive around Hamilton showing us the sites.  We then stopped at her house for some tea and then went Judith's house before had to frazier tech rfc for dinner.   Had dinner at the club and then it was back to hotel.  We ended up staying in to get some sleep.  We had an early start tomorrow - leaving at 7:30.
day 4
Our next stop was the Huka Falls and then Lake Tapo for lunch.  Couple of guys on the team tried the bungy jump.  As we were done with the bungy we saw the wales team bus driving around.  Easty knows the welsch coach so we stopped at the hotel and Warren Gatland came out and talked with us.
Then we were off to rotaroa for our 2 night stay.
We signed up for the hangei (maori experience) and went did that for 3 hours.  Returning to the hotel we had a drink and it was in the hot spring pool.

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%20day%203-4/

1st day - sites in auckland, nz. saw the fan zone in the habor.  Visited the sky tower.  Went to Massey, and met our billets.  Carpooled to the bar near North Habor stadium.  Watch japan vs france.  It was close but in the end 2 tries by france put it out of touch.
Got to make home made pizzas on a wood grill.  Went home to sleep after a long flight and day.

Day 2 we slep till 11 and then had breakfast.  At 12:45 we are off the club house for the game with massey.  A good game but a lose 75-10.  Spent the night drinking and watch world cup matchs on the tv.

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk16/wcutler/nz%20day%201-2/