Goldies head for Sydney festival

The Diplomats and Mongoose golden oldies rugby teams are preparing to leave on Friday for the Golden Oldies Rugby Festival in Sydney.

Last Tuesday the Diplomat side was hosted to lunch by Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin and Lady Goodwin along with the team going to New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games.

This was indeed an honour for the team.

After their arrival in Sydney on Saturday the players hopefully will have a quiet night as some are walking the Bridge on Sunday morning before the main parade of nations in the afternoon followed by the “welcome party”. Then on Monday, September 27 the Diplomats has been invited to play the “Gentlemen of Sydney”.

But as the Diplomats do not have enough players they have invited their brothers from the Mongoose to help them and rub shoulders with – just like at chairman Mau’s at Nihou on Friday nights.

In the Gentleman of Sydney are Wallaby greats such as Mark Ella, Simon Poidevin, Richard Tombs, Steve Talbot, Jason Little, and a couple of politicians such as Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey, as well as some of the organising committee.

So the side has a bit of a mountain to get over there but with the help of their bros from Mongoose they should be okay.

As this is an important game, which will be broadcast on Radio plus local TV, it will be a Cook Islands effort against Australia – Golden Oldies style.

The local Cook Islands community is helping out with drummers and dancers for both the parade and at the games.

Also the Cook Islands community in Sydney have been in contact and will be hosting both teams to a kai kai on Tuesday night which will be appreciated after Monday’s games.

Our next Golden Oldies International Tournament will be held in Fukuoka in Japan and already six members have started to pay subs.

The Cook Islands Golden Oldies would like to thank The Bond (as the main sponsor) for the new playing uniform and assistance from Air New Zealand – their help was very much appreciated.

Will keep you informed from Sydney.