NOVEMBER 2013 CLASSIC BERMUDA 1 Golf Tournament Referees Liaison Michael Jenkins , mbe • John Weale Grounds Team Liaisons Cameron Madeiros • Chris Finsness Chief - Pat McHugh Tristan Loescher - Sebastian Escapil Trevor Madeiros (National Sports Centre) & Guillermo Konecny GRAPHICS - Andrew McCormick Committees Carole Havercroft Canada - Jack Rhind Classic Lions - Simon Carruthers President Legal & Financial - Marc Morabito Kim White • Steve Woodward • Ken O’Neill John Kane, mbe - Guido Brambilla Vice President Medical Facilities - Durnferd Davis David Mutch Dr. Annabel Carter • Dr. Angela Marini - Craig Smith Shelley Fortnum (Massage Therapists) Accommodation Maureen Ryan (Physiotherapists) Tournament Referee Hilda Matcham (Classic Lions) Dennis Dwyer Sue Gorbutt (Canada) Members Tent Alan Gorbutt • Vicki Johnston Administration Andrea Kulmala • Fiona Maderios Programme EditoriaL: John Kane Julie Butler Harry Patchett • Phil Taylor DESIGN and PRODUCTION: Classic Club Ronan Kane • Margaret Weale Carole Havercroft/AdWorks Martine Purssell • Peter Kyle MeRCHANDISE Photography: Valerie Cheape • Debbie DeSilva Classic Gas & Website Carole Havercroft • Allan Waring Neil Redburn Grant Robshaw Scott Stallard CoMMENTARy Overseas Hugh Cahill (Irish Television) Argentina - Rodolfo Ventura Published by: Michael Jenkins Australia - Damian Smith The World Rugby Classic British Isles - Alan Martin PRINTing: Bermuda Press Limited Corporate Hospitality Canada - Andy Wright Michael Kane • Graham Lamb France - Philippe Leveau Carole Havercroft • Maxine Adderley Italy - Andrea Moretti & George Hook Jnr. The cover is a painting by Jonah Jones of Gates & Security South Africa - Mark Wood one of the early Classics at Nationals Sports Ian Hind • Alex Anfossi • Roy Dennison United States - Tim Kluempers Club now Somersfield Academy.

2 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA sent from the UK, mobile phones were dramatic!) in 1988 I don’t think many of us the size of a small radio, no one heard had a notion that 25 years later we would of emails, offices had telex machines, have had all those Classics, all those fax machines were a new wonder on the memories. horizon and if you told a girl you were A lot of water has flown under the bridge going to text her you would have had although, in recent years, it has gone over your face slapped! Welcome it and taken it with it! Brian O’Driscoll was nine, The great Irish & Lions winger, Tony 1988 was quite some time ago, a lifetime was six and ’s mother was O’Reilly, once said at the annual for many, a different world. three years away from a visit to the Fund Dinner. “the only reason we had the maternity ward. The “news” on the local TV stations was second annual Dinner was to pay for the “24 hour tape delayed". Rugby games “Tempus” has certainly “Fugit”! first annual Dinner!” were shown at Nationals using a video And as we set out into the unknown (a bit We didn’t have the second Classic for that reason, it was just that we were all having so much fun we didn’t want to stop the carnival. Business in Bermuda, both local and international, came on board and stayed on board, a great testament to all the vol- unteers, hosts, players & team managers who have help to make the Classic some- thing special each November. 1988? Seems like yesterday!

John R. Kane, MBE President

4 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Tuesday November 12th Thursday, November 14th World Rugby Classic Golf Tournament 5.45pm: Gates Open Riddell's Bay Golf & Country Club 6.00pm: Hospitality Village opens from 12 noon (Invitation only) ------6.00pm: Bermuda vs. Lloyds RFC Wednesday November 13th 7.15pm: Plate Semi-Final 5.45pm: Gates Open Loser C vs. Loser D 6.00pm: Hospitality Village opens Schedule 8.30pm: Classic Semi-Final 7.15pm: Plate Semi-Final Winner C vs. Winner D Saturday November 9th Loser A vs. Loser B 10.00pm: Entertainment 5.45pm: Gates Open in the Tent Tavern 6.00pm: Hospitality Village opens 8.30pm: Classic Semi-Final Winner A vs. Winner B ------7.15pm: Argentina vs. Canada A Saturday November 16th 10.00pm: Entertainment 8.30pm: Classic Lions vs. Italy B in the Tent Tavern 5.00pm: Gates Open 5.15pm: Hospitality Village opens 10.00pm: Entertainment in the Tent Tavern 6.30pm: Plate Final DJ Kenneth Pemberton ------8.00pm: Classic Final Sunday November 10th will be in the Tent Tavern each match night and Bermuda’s Free Day - No Games 10.00pm: Entertainment famous “Kennel Boys” play in the Tent Tavern ------both Saturday nights. Monday November 11th Public Holiday for Remembrance Day 5.45pm: Gates Open 6.00pm: Hospitality Village opens 7.15pm: France vs. South Africa C 8.30pm: Australia vs. USA D 10.00pm: Entertainment in the Tent Tavern

6 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA component of the S&P 500 index. The ACE Group maintains executive offices in Zurich, Bermuda and New York, among other locations and employs more than 19,000 people worldwide. THE FAIRMONT SOUTHAMPTON is Additional information can be found at: the official hotel of the World Rugby www.acegroup.com Classic, accommodating many of the Major Sponsors visiting international players, referees, wives and partners. It is Bermuda’s premier luxury resort, THE BERMUDA DEPARTMENT OF offering extensive recreational facilities TOURISM has supported the Classic (golf, tennis, scuba diving, jet skiing), since its inception in 1988 by pro- Willow Stream Spa, award-winning res- The ACE Group was one of the early viding financial and promotional sup- taurants and a wide range of elegant sponsors of the World Rugby Classic port. The Classic works closely with the accommodations, including the full ser- and is proud to continue its support of Department, and its’ overseas offices, to vice concierge Fairmont Gold floor. this exciting community event. assist in bringing the unique flavour of the For more information visit: The ACE Group is one of the world’s Classic to a wider audience. www.fairmont.com/southampton largest multiline property and casualty The Bermuda Department of Tourism insurers. With operations in 53 countries, has featured the Classic at many trade ACE provides commercial and personal shows for travel agents and at rugby property and casualty insurance, per- match days in the UK, all with the aim sonal accident and supplemental health of increasing tourism and raising the insurance, reinsurance and life insurance awareness of Bermuda through sports to a diverse group of clients. tourism. ACE Limited, the parent company of the Visit www.gotobermuda.com GOSLING’S LTD., one of the early ACE Group, is listed on the New York for more in-formation on Classic supporters, is delighted to con- Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a Bermuda’s tourism product. tinue its association with the Classic as the beer, wines and spirits sponsor. The Gosling Group of companies not only put the “Dark” in Dark ‘n Stormies with Goslings Black Seal Rum ® but now provides the “Stormy” with Gosling’s Stormy Ginger Beer®, made especially to their tippling standards. Look no further to find the Island’s broadest selection of fine wines, spirits, beers and catering supplies or to see who is the largest exporter of Bermuda- made products. Well known for their landmark shop by the “Birdcage” on Front Street, Goslings also has a specialty wine store with temperature-controlled wine cellar storage for their private clients and an “Old World” style tasting facility on Dundonald Street. For more information visit www.goslings.com

8 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Sporting Legends, Governors, Premiers David Barber ------or just plain multi-millionaires, they all BGA Group of Companies ------benefit from the same bon homie which British Airways ------comes from years of experience and a Broadridge Financial Services few glasses of wine. ------Catlin Insurance So to Vicki, Margaret, Maria, Nigel, ------Canopius Underwriting Bermuda Ltd. Mathew, Tyler, Laura, Dee, Kelli, Pearl, ------Francis Carter Members Tent Jennifer, Jane, Alex, Juliette, Francesca, ------Chartwell Industries Limited Elizabeth, Georgi, Rebecca, Sarah, ------It sits, majestically behind the line at Jo-Ann, Liz, Nikki, Alan, Harry, Elis, Phil, Cheyne Capital International LP ------the southern end of the field, with entry Andrea, Fiona, Ashley, Rick & Michelle. Clyde & Company jealously guarded and accessible only to ------and everyone else, “thank you for a task Conning Asset Management Ltd. those with the best of credentials e.g. a ------so superbly undertaken over the years”. David Cooper Members Tent Badge. ------Andrew Cressey But once inside you join a merry group The Clients: ------ACE Group Gareth Davies of people, enjoying the best of company, ------the best of food and a bar which never Amundi (UK) Management Deloitte ------seems to out. Allied World Re General Re ------New Asset Management But, apart from the volunteers, there are Aon Risk Solutions ------Insuralex many others who also enjoy the special Appleby (Bermuda) Ltd. ------Ironshore Insurance Ltd. ambiance of the Tent, an ambiance cre- Ariel Re ------ated by those who have looked after so ------KRyS Global Argo Group ------many guests over the years. ------Lloyds Bank Aspen Insurance ------Whether they be Hollywood Stars, ------Robert Lund ------Fiona Luck ------Marcus Mahy ------Montpelier Re ------MS Frontier Ltd. ------Barry New ------Paget Health Services ------Payden & Rygel Investment Management ------Renaissance Reinsurance ------John & Brenda Ryall ------Sirius Group ------Robin Spencer-Arscott ------Charles Swart ------Transatlantic Re ------Validus Re ------Keith White ------Zurich International (Bermuda) Ltd.

10 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Last year twenty-five clients entertained Our 2013 Corporate Corporate nearly 6,000 in the Hospitality Village as Hospitality Clients: ------Hospitality the Classic was, once again, recognised ACE Group of Companies as the best corporate event in Bermuda. ------Allianz Risk Transfer (Bermuda) Ltd. A of those guests came from ------American International Group overseas as Classic Week has developed ------Argo Group into an important week to showcase ------what Bermuda has to offer in the world of Bacardi International ------international business. Bank of N.T. Butterfield ------Business meetings in the morning, maybe Bank of New York Mellon ------a round of golf in the afternoon and then Club Italia ------the Classic in the evening; can there Colonial Group International ------be a better place in the world to conduct Conyers Dill & Pearman business? ------Deloitte ------Diabetes Association ------Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. ------Ernst & Young ------Guy Carpenter & Co. LLC ------HSBC ------ILS Bermuda ------KPMG ------Markel Global ------PricewaterhouseCoopers ------Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd. ------Schroders (Bermuda) Ltd. ------XL Capital ...along with Bermuda Police, Mariners and Renegades Rugby Clubs.

12 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Associate Sponsors & Suppliers Aberfeldy Nurseries - Plants Shield Security - Security Services ------AdWorks - Graphic Design Undercover Tent - Tents, Tables & Chairs ------A.F. Smith - Classic Gas Winton Limited - Electrical Services ------BCM - Ground Assistance ------Bermuda Scaffolding - Commentary Tower Team Sponsors ------Cabaloo - Portable Bathrooms Our Team Sponsors are a valuable part of ------Colonial Insurance - Event Insurance the Classic, providing the visiting teams with ------support, thus enhancing the experience for Conyers Dill & Pearman - Corporate Services many of the players of a Bermuda visit. ------Argentina - MS Frontier Fourways - Members Tent Catering ------Australia - Ariel Re John Barritt & Son - Team Refreshments ------Canada - Swizzle Inn ------Meyer Agencies - Containers Classic Lions - Renaissance Re ------One Time Logistics - Event Logistics Italy - XL Capital ------Pimental's Crane Service - South Africa - Catlin Insurance Ground Assistance ------SAS Protection Services - Ground Security ------

14 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Over the years the same hosts enter- The 2012 Hosts tained the same players and, as a result, Kevin Blee ------some wonderful friendships developed. Anne Coakley ------The Classic relies very heavily on our Annette & Adrian Cook ------hosts as they are an integral, and very Jodie Corbett ------important, part of the Classic and, in Jackie Correia ------reality, it just wouldn’t be the same Sue & Jay Correia Hosts without them. ------Sharon & Mike Cranfield From the very outset one of the great ------As a small “thank you” we make our Lisa DeMello successes of the World Rugby Classic ------hosts members of the Classic Club while Sue & Marc De Verteuil was the ability to encourage people to we also invite them to be our guest one ------Linda & Jack Durner open their homes for a week to com- evening in the Members Tent. ------Glenda & Gary Edwards plete strangers. ------We know, however, that is not the reason Mark Eldridge ------that they do it and it is knowing that which Kathy & Ed Fairies makes them all that bit more special. ------Mary & Terry Faulkenberry ------Dek & Sam Froud ------Shelly Grace ------Charlie & Shana Griffiths ------Lynn Gruegel ------Lee & Charles Hall ------Nancy & Tom Hand ------Paula Harrison ------Anne Marshall ------Deirdre Mellamphy ------Lucy & Mike Murphy ------Janet & Larry Osborne ------Rosemary Outerbridge ------Caroline Rance ------Carol Redihan ------Lisa & Jack Rhind ------Judy Rollin ------April & Jamie Schmerer ------Alistair & Sheena Smith ------Morag & Tom Smith ------Sheena & Reeve Trott ------Andrea Wass ------Ken & Jane Vickers ------Arthur Wightman

16 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA and watch the sun set, all in the com- The Conning pany of some great rugby players, then Classic Club just enquire at the entrance and ask for Martine, as she would be delighted to Located opposite the Tent Tavern the make you a members for the day or for Conning Classic Club is the place to have the week. a chat with the visiting international rugby players as it is their watering hole where There isn’t a door so no need to knock they gather to sip a Dark n’ Stormy as the twice! sun begins to set. CONNING is a leading investment Actually the sun has long set but the management company for the “watering hole” and “setting sun” just global insurance industry, with appealed to me so I put it in! almost $82 billion in assets under Sponsored by Conning Asset Manage- management as of June 30, 2013 ment Limited, the Classic Club serves through its investment centres in some excellent food as well as some Hartford (US), (UK) and wonderful beers and wines and all at . The company’s unique reduced prices. combination of asset management, risk and capital management solu- So if you want to sit at the watering hole tions and insurance research helps clients achieve their financial goals through customized investment and business strategies. See their website at: www.conning.com

18 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Grounds, Accommodation, Golf, Mass- Volunteers ages, Physiotherapy, Medical Needs, Last year we offered the thought that, Liaising with the Teams and do all the since 1988, some 5,000 people have unseen jobs around the Classic, “Thank volunteered their time to help make the You” for what you do so well. Classic what it is today. They are, without doubt, a great bunch of people, from all walks of life and from various countries as well as Bermuda and they all put their heart and soul into what- ever task they are given and do so with great enthusiasm and joy. They are the soul of the Classic and it just wouldn’t happen without them. And so to all those who look after the Gates, Merchandise, Classic Club, Members Tent, Hospitality, Financial,

20 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Most Bledisloe Cups In his other sporting life he played 121 Most Tri Nations and times for Ireland at , including - Most Six Nations taining his country and played twice for He has refereed 75 Games the MCC. and 133 Currie Cups including a record 5 This is his 3rd Classic. Currie Cup Finals. Ian Ramage () He is the only referee to have been Ian has taken charge of nine international Referees involved with four Lions Tours and ref- matches as well as officiating at the 1999 ereed the All Blacks more times (17) than & 2003 Rugby World Cups. Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa) anyone else. Jonathan is the most experienced inter- He continues to officiate as a televi- This is his first visit to Bermuda. national referee in the game, having just sion match official and is making his 6th recently retired. (Ireland) appearance at the Classic. He holds the record for Test Rugby having took charge of 45 Test matches and has Huw Griffiths () taken charge of 58 test matches ahead of refereed more Heineken Cup games (71) Huw has refereed all over the World (46) Alan Lewis (45) Nigel than any other referee. including Southern Hemisphere, Magners Owen (45) and Derek Bevan (44) He refereed at the 1999, 2003 and League and Heinenken Cup games. Jonathan officiated at three Rugby World 2007 Rugby World Cups as well as one He has been a Welsh referee for more Cups in 1999, 2003 & 2007 and holds a Heineken Cup Final. than ten years and this is his 3rd Classic number of refereeing records: He has also refereed the Tri Nations. appearance. continued on page 24

Oops ...sorry Ref!

22 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Referees - continue from page 22 14, including the 2010 Final, the Heineken your hands” he said, “as you have always Cup and the premiership in the UK. been the type of referee I have tried to (Wales) aspire to in my career but you have set Hugh has taken charge of five interna- This is his first Classic. the bar very high!” tional matches and officiated at the 2007 Derek Bevan MBE . This is Derek’s 12th visit to the Classic, (Wales) one of the games great characters and He was also involved in the very popular Derek is the doyen of the rugby referees truly Part of the Classic. UK television programme “” fraternity and one of the most popular and is making his third visit to the Classic. figures in the game. On the local front John Weale is involved in his 17th Classic, both as (France) When he retired from international rugby assistant referee and as liaison with the is on the International Rugby Board in 2000 he had taken charge of more visiting referees. John is the most expe- Referees panel and officiated at the 2007 (44) international matches than any other rienced of the local referees having been Rugby World Cup as well as refereeing referee, a record since surpassed. involved in the Caribbean , the Barbarians against South Africa and He refereed at four Rugby World Cups the Benidorm, Cayman and Cuban 7’s the Lions against South Africa in 2007. including the 1991 Final and one of the tournaments in his long career. semi-finals in 1995. He made his Six Nations debut in 2008 Dennis Dwyer was the senior referee and has also refereed the French C Top He also refereed the 1997 Heineken Cup in the West Indies from 1994 to 2003 Final, four Welsh Cup Finals, the Hong having taken charge of over 25 interna- Kong Sevens, the Dubai Sevens and the tional matches within the West Indies. Students World Cup Final. A former backrow forward, and with knees He published his autobiography in 2001 now largely held together with piano wire, (The Man in the Middle) and was awarded he has moved to the lofty position of the MBE by the Queen for his services to Tournament Referee dispensing justice rugby. and making decisions of a Solomon-lie I was with Derek just before a Wales/ nature. Ireland game in , having been Norman Lynas is head of the local invited by Derek to the inner sanctum Referees Society and is an assistant where referees and former internationals referee at this year’s Classic, his third. gather. Just before the game, Craig Hailing from the North of Ireland he Joubert of South Africa, the referee for honed his refereeing skills in the medi- the day came in looking for Derek. eval city of Kilkenny in the South before “I just wanted to meet you and shake moving to Bermuda.

24 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA He scored nearly 300 points for his country at lock including the 1999, 2003 country including 22 points in a win over & 2007 Rugby World Cups. England at when he was He played on 56 occasions for Sale named Man of the Match. and 37 times for Northampton He played in the Saints whom he captained. on three occasions with a 100% win He played in 15 Heineken Cup games record, and against the Lions in Cardiff and 24 Amlin Cups. in 2005 kicking 7 out of 7 kicks to earn a Player Profiles 25/25 draw. He also played in 24 Amlin Jose Nunez Piossek Cups scoring 141 points. (Argentina) Federico Todeschini is his country leading try scorer having (Argentina) Carlos Fernandez Lobbe scored 9 tries in one international! was capped 21 times for his country from (Argenitina) 1998 to 2007 either at outhalf or . was capped on 65 occasions for his He played 29 times on the wing for his country including the and for Warriors in the Heineken Cup in the 2008/2009 season. Rimas Alvarez Kairelis (Argentina) was capped on 44 occasions, at lock or flanker, from 1998 to 2009 and was also capped four times at 7s. He played in the 2003 & 2007 Rugby World Cups and on 51 occasions for Perpignan in the Heineken Cup from 2001 to 2011 Bernardo Stortoni (Argentina) was capped on 27 occasions, at fullback, from 1998 to 2008 having previously cap- tained his country at A level. He played for including 24 Heineken Cup games

26 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA He played for ACT and (Australia) Reds in the Super is a player making League on 56 occasions, both at 329 appearances, including 54 for wing and at fullback the Storm in the National Garrick Morgan Player Profiles rugby League and 59 times for Wigan (Australia) in the , including win- played 24 times for his country, at ning the 2011 Final. (Australia) lock forward, from 1992 to 1997 played 24 times for Australia from He played for in He played his club rugby for 2001-2006 as hooker. the and retired and then in after this seasons’ Finals. He played in 337 ARL games, 225 for Harlequins () and Pau, for the Newcastle Knights, including Andrew Walker playing in 12 Heineken Cups & 24 captaining the team, and 82 times for (Australia) Amlin Challenge Cups. . represented his country both in He was voted player of the year in 2006 He was also captain of the New Rugby League and and in France and captains the Classic South Wales State of Origin team was one of the first high profile dual Wallabies in this year’s Classic. and is considered to be one of the internationals. “greats” of the game. He played 7 times for Australia (R.U.) He retired after this season’s Finals in 2000 and 2001 and 144 Rugby and will be working with the brumbies League games including 103 times for as defensive coach. Roosters scoring 610 points. Steve Kefu (Australia) played 6 times for his country from 2001-2003 in the centre. He played for Queensland Reds from 1999 to 2006 before moving to France to play for Castres (2006-2009) and then to London Wasps (2009-2011) He played in 11 Heineken Cups and 7 Amlin Challenge matches.

28 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Sonny Toi Parker and 18 Amlin Challenge Cup Matches, (Wales) while playing for London-Welsh, Tarbes, was born in and played Newcastle and Newport Gwent . centre for Maori Colts before moving to Wales to play for Pontypridd. (Scotland) He was first capped for Wales in 2002 a former captain of Scotland, Jon repre- against Romania and played 31 times until sented his country on 45 occasions as a he retired in 2008 from international rugby. Player Profiles flanker. He played in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby He was first capped against New Zealand World Cups in 2000 and played his final game in 2006 against South Africa, having previously played at U-21 and A level for his country. (Wales) played 94 times for Wales from 1996 to He played in 31 Heineken Cup matches 2007 including three Rugby World Cups. and 8 Amlin Challenge Cup matches for Glasgow and Colomiers He was captain of Wales and in 2007 became the world record try scorer for a forward in Test Rugby and only the third (Ireland) forward in world rugby to score over 100 played 27 times for Ireland at flanker from points. 1994 to 1999 including the in South Africa. He also represented Wales Students, Wales U-21 and Wales A. He played in 10 Heineken Cups for Munster and 5 Amlin Cups for Bristol. He played in 37 Heineken Cup matches

30 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Trevor Brennan Daffyd James (Ireland) (Wales) played 13 times for Ireland, either as played 48 times for Wales having being flanker or second row, from 1998 to 2001. earlier capped at U-21 and A levels.

He played provincial rugby for Leinster, He also gained three caps for the Lions on playing in 22 Heineken Cups before the 2001 tour to Australia. moving to where he played in a He played in 60 Heineken Cup gains further 35 Heineken Cups, including two Player Profiles overall victories. scoring 29 tries, a record at the time, and 6 Amlin Cups. Shaun Long (England) Bernard Jackman is a former rugby league player having (Ireland) played 15 times for Gt. Britain and 5 times was capped, at hooker, on 9 occasions for England at scrumhalf and outhalf. for Ireland from 2000 to 2008, having also represented his country at U-19 and U-21 He played in 308 club games, primarily levels. with St. Helens (265) scoring 2,176 points including 132 tries. He played in 27 Heineken Cup games, including winning the Cup for Leinster in He played for St. Helens in a number of 2009, and 37 Amlin Cups which he won Challenge Cup Finals winning in 2001, with in 2001. 2004 and 2006

32 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA (Canada) was capped 62 times at prop from 1995 to 2007. He played for Eastern Province (South Africa) before joining Newport Gwent Dragons (Wales) playing nearly 200 times including 28 Heineken Cup games. Player Profiles Kyle Nichols (Canada) a former captain of his country, was capped 25 times in the centre including the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups. John Graff (Canada) also captained his country having been capped 54 times. He played in the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cups and, unusu- ally, was capped in four different posi- tions in the backline. He also played for Bridgend (Wales)

34 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 35 He played in 27 Heineken Cup and (France) 23 Amlin Challenge matches for Stade is possibly one of the best centres to have Francais played for France. He was first capped in 2001 and went on to play 73 times for his country and was a (France) played scrumhalf for his country on 21 member of France’s teams of 2002, 2004 & 2010. occasions, including the Champion side of 1992 and the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He played in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby Player Profiles World Cups In 1992 he played for RC Toulon win- ning the French Championship and He represented his club, Toulouse, in 79 Heineken Cup matches, including win- played in 18 Amlin Cup games for ning the Cup in 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2010 Toluon (1996/2000) as well as for and was Man of the Match in in 2005. (2000/2001) He played 237 times for Toulouse and Julien Laharrague (France) played 12 retired this year. times for France at wing & fullback. He played in 20 Heineken Cups and 43 Amlin Cups for a number of French Clubs as (France) well as for Sale Sharks. was capped at lock on 40 occasions for France from 1999 to 2004, including Pietre Mitu playing in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. (Romania) He played in 55 Heineken Cup matches is playing for the French Classics having for Stade Francais played 34 times for Romanian including Franck Comba captaining his country in the 1999 Rugby (France) World Cup. Playing at scrumhalf he played 13 times for his country, at centre, scored a total of 288 points, a record for a from 1998 to 2001. scrumhalf in international rugby

36 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA

Massimo Giovanelli Alessandro Stoica (Italy) (Italy) played 60 times for his country, 37 times was born in Romania and played 60 as captain, including the 1991, 1995 & times for Italy in the centre, including 1999 Rugby World Cups. the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups. He played in 43 Amlin Challenge Cups He was inducted into the World Rugby for Narbonne, Castre, Gloucester and Museum Wall of Fame at Twickenham in Montpelier. 2001. Ramiro Pez (Italy) was born in Argentina Player Profiles and played 40 times for Italay at outhalf. (Italy) He played in 11 Heineken Cup games for was born in New Zealand and played 47 Leicester, Perpignan and Roma. times for Italy at #8 Marko Stanoeivic He played in 19 Heineken Cup games for (Italy) , Viadano and . was born in the UK and played 7 times for Italy on the wing including the 2007 (Italy) Rugby World Cup. He played in 11 Amlin was also born in New Zealand and played Challenge Cups and 4 Heineken Cups 42 times for Italy at scrumhalf, including games for Calvisano. the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He played in Stefano Saviozzi 37 Heineken Cup games for Calvisano. (Italy) played 14 times for Italy at hooker and flanker, including the 1990 Rigby World Cup. He won four Premiership titles, and played in 8 Heineken Cups, with Treviso. (Italy) played 54 times for Italy on the wing, scoring 110 points. He played in the 1987, 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cups and is his country’s top try scorer. (Italy) played 38 times for Italy as centre and fullback, including the .

40 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 41 He is widely acknowledged as one of the He played for Toulon for one season in best locks in the world 2007 helping them to promotion from Division Two to Division One. He played in three Rugby World Cups in 2003, 2007 & 2011 and was selected as the IRB Player of the Tournament fol- (South Africa) lowing South Africa’s win in the Final over retired from international rugby in 2008 England in 2007. holding, at the time, the all-time record for Player Profiles He played against the Lions in 2009 on caps (102) while he still holds the points three occasions and for the Blue in record (893) for the Springboks. the Super 14 Competition 124 times. He was first capped in 1997 against the (South Africa) The Bulls won the Super 14 in 2007, 2009 Lions and played in the 1999 Rugby is his countries most capped player & 2010 and the Currie Cup in 2002, 2004 World Cup and was recalled for the 2007 having played 110 times from 2001 to & 2009. Cup which South Africa won and in which 2011. He also captained his country in he was the leading points scorer. 2007, 2008 & 2010. He was the leading points scorer in the Tri Nations in 2004 & 2005 and played in 16 Heineken Cup games for Newport Dragons & Perpignan from 2003 to 2008. He was the kicking coach for South Africa against the Lions in 2009 and is making his second appearance in the Classic. (South Africa) played 51 times for his country at lock, including the 1999 & 2007 (winners) Rugby World Cups. He played Super 14 Rugby for natal Sharks on 79 occasions and in 2010 signed for Canon Eagles in ’s .

42 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Kevin Whitcher 10 caps at 7’s. and was a Cambridge Blue (USA) in 2008 & 2009. was capped 80 times at 7’s and is captain of the Classic Eagles. (USA) Doug Rowe was capped 53 times for his country at (USA) 15’s and 110 times at 7’s, including the Player Profiles played 12 times for his country including 2003, 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups and was selected for the Barbarians in 2008. Andre Snyman (South Africa) is making his second appearance for the Classic Eagles in Bermuda having been capped for South Africa in the centre 38 times.

44 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA room for a hearing aid company to com- Advertising plete the ensemble. in Sport Here we have been a bit more circum- Someone, with a quirky sense of humour, spect having had an accounting firm decided it might be a good if referees (KPMG) sponsor the referees’ shirts for were sponsored by Specsavers and so it many a year with a change this year to a came to pass! law firm (Appleby) And so as you watch rugby from the The ability to count and to know the law British Isles the referees all have a com- are probably the two main requirements pany, which promotes getting an eye test needed for a referee, hence two won- and glasses, emblazoned on their shirts! derful choices of sponsors over the years at the Classic. If the shirts were bigger there might be But what about the players, shouldn’t they have individual sponsorship? Don’t laugh it may well come to pass. Props: BMDS Hooker: Texas Cathouse Locks: Strands Flankers Prize Offered! No.8: The Bus to Dockyard Scrumhalf: Triangle Diving Outhalf: The Night! Centre: Cadbury’s Roses Wings: BA Fullback: Rennies At least they're not as bad as the main sponsors for golf on US television, Cialis and Dick’s! Don’t ask!

46 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Faux Pax! to mind as the half bottle was shared MEMORIES I was invited to the 1997 World Rugby amongst the 12 guests! by John Kane Classic in Fukuoka, Japan having given When I was asked, a second time, what I them permission to use our name. would like to drink, and being a bit wiser, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and replied that I would be very pleased to Japan were the participants. drink what my hosts would traditionally drink on such an occasion. On the night before the first day of the two day Classic and I were As a result three bottles of Johnny Walker invited to a formal dinner by some of the Red Label were produced! Japanese rugby hierarchy. The next day, at the opening game, I I was considered to be the guest of sat beside Shiki Kono, President of the honour and, as we sat down to dinner, Japanese Rugby Union. I was the first to be asked what I would Shiki had been a Kamakaze pilot in the like to drink and, without thinking, replied Second World War but the fact that he “white wine”. was sitting beside me meant he hadn’t Consternation! been very good at it! The manager was sent to find white wine Caseys Bar of Fukuoka and after 15 minutes returned with half a One of my hosts invited me to his club bottle of sweet Sauterne. for drinks, something considered to be a I had done some homework on Japanese great honour. etiquette and knew that when one took a When we entered around 10pm, into what sip, everyone took a sip. was the Japanese equivalent of Casey's, The Marriage Feast at Cana came quickly the place went silent!

48 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Memories - continued from page 48 It seemed a good idea at the time and a I was the only European in the place and, great opportunity to sample an array of possibly, the only European ever to have Belgian beers. set foot in the place and the welcome was Around 1am, having done my best to be under-whelming! sociable and also support the sponsors, I found myself meandering back to the My host and I sat alone drinking our hotel but a bit unsteady! beers, ignored by all and sundry when I spied a piano in the corner! I quickly realised I was walking on uneven cobble-stoned streets but, when I moved I asked if I could play the piano without on to the more even surface of the pave- upsetting anyone. ments, there was no appreciable improve- The following morning around 3.00am a ment. lot of Japanese people, a bit worse for The next day when I woke up, came to wear, staggered out of the “club” singing might be more appropriate, I never felt “Happy Days are Here Again” and I was so bad in my life and when I looked in the invited back the next night. mirror I had obtained the colour of Dracula Music, the great leveller! who never ventured out in the sun. Belgian Beer I made it to the first game some hours There was also a European Classic held later and was asked if I needed to go to in Belgium and one of the sponsorship hospital as I looked to be at death’s door! benefits was that if you had a European When I told them that I had made use Classic ID then you could have a free of of the sponsor’s offer of a free beer in a pint of beer in any number of bars around number of establishments, I was greeted Brussels. with knowing glances.

50 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 51 Memories - continued from page 50 It’s quite amazing how much of a suit In 1989 I was down at the National Sports Medical Team therapists and the physiotherapists who, And, as happens in any contact sport, if It seems noone ever took up such an one glass of red wine can cover! Club working on arrangements when Red in their own way, just work miracles with someone gets injured there is a wonderful offer as all the beers are home grown and Belgian beer…Ugh! “the barmen” shouted to me out on the Many of us, because of our location in tired bones and muscles. medical crew on hand to assess, help and field that I was wanted on the phone. the middle of the Atlantic, have “enjoyed” advise. different and mixing them is a recipe for Their skills enable players to show their Can you hear me now! eight to twelve hours journeys and arrived They are all a very important part of the disaster. In the eighties anyone with an interest It was probably about the twentieth call skills and, as such, they are very much feeling as if we had slept in the overhead Classic and very much appreciated by the I hadn’t fully recovered at the dinner that in UK & Irish sport didn’t have the option I had received that morning so I said tell appreciated for what they do. bin! visiting players. night when Terry Kennedy, affectionately of watching it on television, the only them I’m busy. known as “the Rat”, leaned over to greet option was to listen to Paddy Feeney on Minutes later Red came running up the So have a heart for the players who have me, totally forgetting he had full glass of BBC Radio from 11am each Saturday field “It’s Paddy Feeney” he shouted. travelled long hours from many parts of the globe and, with just a few hours to red wine in his hand. morning. He could have easily said John the recover, taken to the field to do “battle” Baptist such was the excitement! The fact that they can do so is because I took the call and did the interview which of the healing hands of the massage went around the world but the great thing was it was radio and you can lie on radio. I told Paddy the players were down at the beach swimming and sunbathing as the temperature was in the low eighties, the sun was splitting the heavens and Bermuda was a great place to be in November. One of the many people in Bermuda who listened to Paddy regularly thought the interview had been pre-recorded as, in fact, it was raining and a little bit chilly that Saturday morning. Radio is great!

52 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2012 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 53 the maturation process, but the two are school and learning how to pack down in mates and camaraderie among players Modern Day Sport not mutually exclusive. A marriage of a completely different manner. Similarly, superseded any slim financial benefits by Hugh Cahill experience and youthful exuberance that front row forwards who might have strug- that came with pulling on a jersey. Rugby (Irish Radio & Television Commentator) facilitates raw talent is the nirvana for gled in recent seasons are finding that was born an amateur game and in that The frivolity of youth is probably best epit- many coaches at the top level. But it is technique and application are winning out very ethos, the absence of the almighty omised on the sports field. Here, one can extremely difficult to achieve. over size and muscle. dollar presented opportunities for friend- witness inexperience working to a players This is why sports psychologists have Hookers are having to do the unthinkable ship and support. advantage. Unshackled by the weight of become so popular. Even the greatest and actually hook the ball! It may sound Professional players still need that sup- burden and expectation, a youngster can athletes at the pinnacle of their sport have amusing, but before this season, men port. Perhaps now more than ever. In carry himself solely on the whim of his turned to mental guidance at some stage far older and wiser than me had been years to come, I have no doubt that talent and his instinct. If the fear of failure in their careers. Brian O'Driscoll, arguably struggling to recall an incident where a the professional system will give itself is absent on the field of play, the subject one of the greatest test players of his gen- referee had blown up for a crooked feed. to a structure where former pros can is open to moments of unsculptured bril- eration, turned to a sports psychologist Now, with the half feeding the ball be guided into retirement with the help liance. when he felt his form had dipped. in straight, a hooker must learn the art of that they need. But for now, as the first In modern day sport, we have become Today's players are learning all the time. striking the ball with one foot and sup- tranche from the pro era face an unknown accustomed to the domineering manager The game of rugby union continues to porting himself with the other. It is a whole future and life after rugby, the game has figure, protecting his young from the pit- change at a frantic pace, and those that new skill set. a responsibility and a duty to look after falls of success. For with success, comes are unwilling to adapt to new ideas quickly They say time waits for no man, but time the men that carved the path to profes- responsibility. And with that responsibility, get left behind. The new scrum laws have on the rugby pitch seems to move fastest sionalism. there is an onus on players to overrule come into force in the northern hemi- of all. Blink and the bright young stars of You might think about that as you watch their own natural talent in favour of doing sphere this season and the results so far today are making way for the next gen- some of the talent on display in the what is best for the good of the team. have been very interesting. eration behind them. And so the cycle Classic this week. Every rugby player has Sacrificing individual gut instinct to ben- Seasoned international props, once continues. to start somewhere. Where they finish up efit a grander squad scheme is gener- feared and revered for their power at 'the As the grip of professionalism continues is just as important. ally seen as being part and parcel of hit' are finding themselves back in scrum to tighten it's claws around the biggest and brightest talents in the game, modern “Pity they won’t let us in day players are being forced to confront but Kane never told us the inevitable and contemplate a future there was a dress code” without rugby union. For most, that future comes all too quickly. Options are limited. There are only so many coaching spots in the professional game and many ex players couldn't con- template a career on the other side of the fence. Media outlets with broadcasting rosters are also diminishing with every season as the squabble for television rights precludes all but the super wealthy from staying in the process. The ones that do survive turn over yesterday's heroes like laundered shorts. Skills that were transferable on the rugby pitch are redundant on the outside world. For many former professional rugby players, the only certainty about life post retirement is the prospect of uncertainty. This is where the rugby community can come to the fore. Rugby union is a game that still has it's roots planted in the ama- teur era. Days when touring with team 54 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2012 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 55 Percy Montgomery, the great South African fullback, shows all his skills and determination to score against the United States last year”

56 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Extract from the derful island is I travel to Bermuda as often as my work recently launched book the promise of schedule permits to attend the World inconsistency. Rugby Classic. This annual event at “This is Rugby” Island men- the National Sports Centre, just outside by George Hook tality is some- the capital Hamilton invites former rugby t h i n g I r i s h greats to come and participate in an Bermuda Classic people know eight-nation tournament over the course The North Atlantic Ocean that sur- plenty about, of seven glorious days. Every year, the rounds the island of Bermuda is a but I believe British and Irish Classic Lions, coached fickle friend to its 64,000 inhabitants. it is the Ber- by the wonderful and legendary Willie On a calm autumn day, her light, mudians who John McBride, are joined by the likes of blue waves lap the sandy shores of encapsulate per- South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, her beaches like horses’ tongues on a fectly what this term is all about. Italy, Argentina, France, the USA and morning canter but whenever the strong Everything in Bermuda moves at an Canada and a feast of social rugby takes winds blow, the ocean responds with rav- easier pace, from the cars and scooters place over the course of the week. The aging and mesmerising consequences. travelling at the twenty miles an hour main requirement set down by John Any week, the shores of Bermuda expe- speed limit along the narrow, winding Kane, the President of the World Rugby rience every inch of both ends of the roads to the waiters and waitresses Classic, is that each team consists only of spectrum – glorious swimming conditions serving food and drinks in the many won- retired players who have ended their full- in a relaxed warm sea on a Saturday and derful bars and restaurants across the time or professional careers. The tourna- currents and waves like something out of country. ment committee sets a minimum age of thirty-three (though exceptions can be a tropical storm twenty-four hours later. Nobody rushes in Bermuda because made). Such is this island’s vulnerable position nobody has to hurry. It’s not so much a off the east coast of the United States that mindset as a way of life. Thirty minutes The Classic has hosted many great rugby her living conditions are dominated com- to receive a main course in a restaurant names over the years. pletely by the fancy of the elements. A hot enables the indulgence of another glass and both attest to summer’s day can be stifled and ruined by of wine. Getting stuck in rush-hour traffic having a wonderful time, both on and off an overbearing humidity, while a winter’s just means more time to listen to the the field, during their trips. Both Classics stroll on the beach is regularly whipped music on the radio. Car horns sound from have boasted a wealth of international up into a hurricane in a matter of sec- morning till midnight in a friendly greeting experience in recent years, with the onds. Where the weather is concerned, to passers-by and familiar faces. People likes of Malcolm O’Kelly, Shane Byrne, the only constant presence on this won- smile a lot too, and it becomes infectious. David Corkery, , Brian

58 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 59 This is Rugby - continued from page 56 event, known as the Easter Classic, used to heavier legs and slower reaction O’Meara, James Topping and Mark Blair where international players would fly in times. Tempers occasionally boil over, representing Ireland, while the Bermuda for a five-day stay on the island, culmi- but one particular incident that took place locals have watched star names like nating in the game on Easter Sunday. during the 2012 Classic springs to mind. Percy Montgomerie, , A.J. The World Rugby Classic, where several I must stress again that incidents of foul Venter, , , Robbie of the top rugby nations were invited to play are few and far between, but this one Fleck, and Colin Charvis line participate in a week-long event was stuck with me long after I left the island. I out for their respective teams. started in 1988. Over the years, the wrote about it soon after I returned to Ireland: John Kane, an Irishman originally tournament has grown to attract the big- from County , has been living in gest names in the game in a celebration Saturday night, 10 November, the crowd Bermuda for over forty years and he is of sport and spirit. The island has also at the National Sports Centre shrieks as the sole reason why this tournament has benefited with many local businesses and the USA Eagles turn the ball over against continued to thrive and prosper every companies taking advantage of the cor- the Springboks and sprint down the field. year since its inception back in 1988. porate hospitality facilities on offer. The Boks scramble to defend their line as His love of rugby union, coupled with an For me, though, the Classic is not just the underdog Americans look to pounce unyielding faith in the benefits that go about the rugby. The festive atmosphere for a try. A fumble on the ground brings a with hosting the World Rugby Classic, throughout the week really lifts the spirits. groan from the crowd and hands posses- has meant that this week-long event has It is a throwback to the amateur days of sion back to South Africa who clear the become a steadfast and eagerly antici- rugby union, when the old tours united danger with a thumping kick. Leif Gibson, pated tradition in the calendar of the local kindred spirits of all nationalities. It USA’s thirty-four-year-old fly-half, turns people. In fact, without help from the encompasses the social side of a game his back on the opposition to trot towards hundreds of local volunteers, it’s safe to that demands commitment and concen- the halfway line. Two seconds later, he suggest the tournament simply would not tration on the pitch, but friendship and is smashed from behind in the back of happen. camaraderie off it. the neck and crumples to a heap on the It all started as a one-off match on The Classic is generally played in the ground. Later that evening, the doctors at Easter Sunday in the 1970s between the best of spirits, though there have been King Edward Memorial Hospital say that Bermuda- Irish and the Bermuda-English. unsavoury incidents over the years as he was lucky. The damage to his neck is The fixture quickly became an annual once-professional athletes struggle to get not as serious as first feared. They con-

60 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2012 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 61 This is Rugby - continued from page 60 realise and understand that accidents little regard for their own personal safety. firm that he will be able to walk again, but are acceptable, if a little unpalatable. I’ve done it myself. But when someone that his rugby-playing days are over. The word ‘accident’, as defined, does not crosses the line and turns tough physical allow for intent, and if there is no intent to play into common assault, it ceases to be It’s a dangerous pursuit, this wonderful harm, injury is just unfortunate. The situ- about sport. game of ours. Rugby is entertain- ation changes altogether, however, when A team-mate of mine during my playing ment for so many players and fans, malice or intent comes into play. days at St Mary’s made an interesting but every so often we are served with The injury to Leif Gibson is one that sticks point after he retired from the game. He a chilling reminder of the risks involved in my mind. A South African prop, six foot played the majority of his career with the with playing the game. Contact sport is in height and weighing the best part of same two props as a hooker in the front exactly that. Every player accepts and nineteen stone, smashed his elbow into row. All three had seen and experienced understands the dangers associated with the back of Gibson’s neck. His motive for their fair share of battles on the field and participating in an activity where some doing so still isn’t clear but, whatever his they grew to enjoy the physical exertions form of physical damage is the norm reasons, there can be no justification for of competitive rugby. rather than the exception. Rugby union committing such a callous and brutal act carries some of the greatest potential for Over the years, the men built and main- on the field of play. He was arrested but tained a relationship based on trust and injury of any sport. Players accept the no charges were brought against him. He understanding. Each realised that their risks, even before a boot is laced or a also apologised profusely for his actions. own safety and physical well-being was jersey is pulled on. There is an unwritten contract that applies in the hands of the other two. If the props Injuries happen every day. The laws of to every person who steps onto a rugby went down under the weight of a scrum, physics and biology demand that acci- pitch. Each understands the physical the hooker could be powerless to defend dents are inevitable when two moving dimensions of the game and accepts the himself. As a unit, they stood or fell on the objects collide on a rugby field. There consequences that come with playing strength of their individual resolve. are rules and laws to limit the potential their chosen sport. Over the years, They also relied heavily on the fairness for injury, but no system is ever per- I have watched thousands of players of their opposition. Front-row forwards fect and those who participate in rugby throw themselves into one another with carry the biggest potential for serious injury because of the nature of their posi- tion at the head of the scrum. There is an understanding that your opposition has as important a role in ensuring your safety as your team-mates playing beside you. Rugby is just a game. Players on the field will always strive for victory, but victory cannot come at any price. Sometimes, the line between intent to harm and accidental injury is quite thin, but in other incidents, the case is clear cut. Sport is as much about integrity and honour as it is about winning. Leif Gibson will recover from his injuries and for that, he is thankful and extremely fortunate. There are many before him who were not so lucky.

62 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2012 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 63 Through the years JPR Williams in the side, won the 1st Steve Smith (England) Phil Orr (Ireland) Bermuda was strengthened by players 1996 A coaching session was arranged for World Rugby Classic while the Bank of (Wales) Gareth Davies from Canada. Japan had its first taste of Classic Rugby schoolboys and, to the surprise of the 1988 Bermuda and Bermuda Tourism were, as (Wales) Tony Bond (England), Mike But once again it was New Zealand when the Far East Classic was paid in players, 750 youngsters turned up. England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the they are today, major supporters. Purcell (USA), Bill Cuthbertson (Scotland) defeating England 20-15 in the Final Fukuoka in May. New Zealand, South & Mike Roberts (Wales) were amongst Africa and Australia were joined by Japan Here, the Barbarians smarting from the United States and Bermuda took part in David Pickering was also in the team and 1993 the players on show. in games played over two days before 1995 hammering reduced the loss to just the first World Rugby Classic. was selected to play again for the full Ireland, Scotland & Wales combined as enthusiastic crowds of 15,000. five points losing 5-10 New Zealand Wales, with Allan Martin as captain and Welsh National side the following year! 1989 the Celtic Barbarians, an experiment New Zealand and France were added to which worked out rather well as they beat the first year’s participants while the round New Zealand 10-5 in the Final! of social events continued unabated. 1994 New Zealand won first time out beating South Africa entered the Classic under the USA in the Final. the leadership of Nick Mallet who was to Peter Wheeler (England) become coach of both South Africa and (England) Andy Donald (New Zealand) Italy. Jean Francois Gourdon (France) Tony Their entry was a momentous rugby Neary (England) Jean Pierre Bastiat event as it was the first time a team from (France), (Wales) Alan all the various factions within rugby in Tomes (Scotland), Donal Spring (Ireland) South Africa toured abroad. were amonst those who played. , Irvin October, Charles 1990 Kleinboi, Yusuf Abrahams and many Demand from overseas resulted in others came and when the World Cup nine countries taking part in 1990 with was played in South Africa the following Australia being added to the list while year, the Classic was credited with ACE and XL became new sponsors. enabling the diverse rugby voices in Paul McLean led the Australian Classic South Africa to be heard which resulted in team, having also captained Australia, one the best World Cups to date. and later became President of the But after the “blip” of 1993, it was New Australian Rugby Union. Zealand the winners once again, this time New Zealand defeated Wales in the over the Barbarians (Ireland, Scotland & Final 14-8. Wales) 30-0. 1991 1995 Classic Rugby travels abroad as the Argentina and Canada enter the Classic Classic All Blacks and the Classic for the first time but once again it is new Wallabies play a three match series in Zealand to the fore as they defeat the , Sydney and Barbarians 50-10. Players stayed at the White Sands Hotel, the Palmetto Bay Hotel and the Sonesta Beach hotel for the 1991 Classic. None of these hotels now exist but we tend to think that is just a coincidence! The following year they stayed at the Inveruruie... that also no longer exists! New Zealand defeated England in the Final 12-4. 1992 A team representing Europe took part with players from Italy, France, Holland, Portugal & Spain jelling together as one would expect!

64 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2012 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 65 Through the years - continued from page 65 Argentina 35-10 in the final. Iberian Classic and bring a new flavour 1997 1998 to the Classic but it is a very strong South replaced England who joined , the games most capped African side which beats Argentina in the the Barbarians and became the Classic player at the time with 111 caps for Final by 40-0 Lions. France, made his Classic debut but it was 2001 Once again the British Isles benefitted the legendary Scottish The vast open spaces of the North Field from a name change as they beat fullback and captain, and also captain of provide the Classic with a first class venue the Lions, who led the 1998 Classic Lions enabling it to expand the Hospitality facili- to victory over the Classic All Blacks 17-5 ties while providing the playesr with one in the final. of the finest surfaces on which to ply their 1999 trade. Argentina delighted their many enthusi- The United States team and their sup- astic supporters beating Canada, who porters receive a huge welcome just had overcome the Classic All Blacks in months after 9-11. the semi-final, in the final 33-5 The Classic Lions beat South Africa 22-17 2000 in the Final The Millennium Classic was the last one Women’s Rugby makes its appearance to be held at the National Sports Club, at the Classic with the British Lionesses now Somersfield. drawing with the USA Golden Eagles Portugal and Spain combine as the 10-10.

66 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Through the years - continued from page 66 Golden Eagles get passed the British series while South Africa and Australia Lionesses 15-10 to square the series. fight out a near replay of 2004 with the 2002 South Africans winning 21-12 It is now 30 years since the first Inter- 2004 Australia return, led by former Captain national player, , came to 2006 , but it is South Africa which Bermuda for the Easter Classic and 14 Lots of Locks at the Classic: takes the headlines with Jooost Ven Der years since the first World Rugby Classic. Westhuizen, his country’s most capped Willie John McBride (Australia) Philippe Sella player, and Francois Pienaar, the leg- - 80 caps for Ireland & the Lions (France) (England), Gavin endary 1995 captain, part of the team. Allan Martin Hastings (Scotland), (Wales) The Ladies continue their rivalry and in an - 35 caps for Wales & the Lions and Mike Gibson (Ireland) all graced effort to break the three-series deadlock, Bermuda and they were all, at one point in Andy Haden - 41 caps for New Zealand but end up with 15 all draw! time their country’s most capped players. - 61 caps for France South Africa overcome Australia 22-12 in Willie John McBride (Ireland) was the Mark Giacheri - 49 caps for Italy the final and Pienaar gets to hold aloft a most capped Lions player. second “World” trophy. - 77 caps for Canada The Lionesses (873 caps) return and Martin Johnson, one of the greatest for- Gabriel Fulcher - 20 caps for Ireland defeat the USA Golden Eagles (195 caps) wards of the game, captain of England Lio Falaniko - 24 caps for Samoa 20-10. with 84 caps and captain of the Lions in The Classic Lions beat South Arica after 1997 & 2001, and winning World Cup Eliseo Branca - 39 caps for Argentina extra time 16-13. captain, has his Testimonial Dinner in Australia makes a third straight final but, 2003 Bermuda during Classic Week. once again, finds one team too far with France, led by Olivier Roumat, beat the 2005 the Lions winning 10-5. United States in the Final 13-6 but the The Golden Eagles win 15-10 to take the The Ladies call it quits!

68 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA Through the years - continued from page 68 No Tri Nations existed and there were no With Justin in the team the overall out- 2012 Classic individuals who owned a rugby club. come was never in doubt and the Classic 2012 2007 Match Results Italy was the newest member to join the A quick bit of re-appraisal saw them lose My guess is, regardless of what happens All Blacks made it two in a row, beating In a pre-celebration of the 2007 World Cup First Round narrowly to Canada 10-7 but in the end, elsewhere, things in Bermuda will pretty South Africa 28-5 in the Final. Classic family, but quite quickly learnt that in France the Classic hosted a special Argentina 26 - France 12 in another Southern Hemispehere Final Banquet at the Fairmont Southampton much stay the same. And isn’t that com- 2011 United States 10 - South Africa 43 this was not golden oldies rugby as they forting as, the more we change, the better with former World Cup winning cap- The year of the Big Wind! Classic Lions 14 - Canada 10 went down 45-7 to Australia. Australia defeated South Africa 15-5 tains Nick Farr-Jones (Australia, 1991) the “good old days look” (Andy Haden) On the night before the opening games Australia 45 - Italy 7 Francois Pienaar (South Africa 1995), South Africa back in the final but lose to we were hit with a storm with most of the Plate Semi Finals (Australia 1999) and coach the Lions 5-19. tents blown down and, in spite of valiant France 14 - United States 7 Sir (England 2003) in 2009 efforts by Mark Bell & his crew, we were Canada 10 - Italy 7 attendance. The 400th Anniversary of the colonisation in trouble! Classic Semi-Finals George Hook, Radio and Television per- of Bermuda: The best we could hope for was a Argentina 7 - South Africa 17 sonality, was Master of Ceremonies. New Zealand, finally ends a twelve year Tuesday start and even this required a Australia 19 - Classic Lions 10 super-human effort from those who had It was a Southern Hemisphere Final with drought with a 24-0 win over the Classic Plate Final South Africa beating New Zealand 31-12 Lions in the Final. put the facility together as well as support France 17 - Canada 0 from the community, the teams and the 2008 2010 volunteers and understanding from our Classic Final Back in 1989, the Classic All Blacks first One of the great names of the modern clients who had booked hospitality. Australia 15 - South Africa 5 Classic, the first Rugby World Cup had game was finally “selected” for the just been contested, the game was still Classic with Justin Marshall, a former All But a great compliment came out of all Past Winners amateur and there was no Heineken Cup Blacks Captain, adding to his 81 caps and this: Classic Plate 1988 Wales USA and no Super 13. making his Classic appearance. “If anyone can make it work the Classic ------1989 New Zealand Scotland is the one”! ------1990 New Zealand United States And so we started on Tuesday and went ------five straight nights, testing the metal 1991 New Zealand Ireland ------of the volunteers and the fitness of the 1992 New Zealand Ireland/Scotland teams. ------1993 Celtic Barbarians England ------In the end Argentina took the honours 1994 New Zealand South Africa with a 25-19 over the Lions. ------1995 New Zealand Argentina 2011, more than any other year, truly ------1996 New Zealand Argentina showed what “Being Part of the Classic” ------really meant as out of adversity came a 1997 Classic Lions United States ------lot of pride and huge respect for all those 1998 Classic Lions Canada ------involved. 1999 Argentina South Africa ------2000 South Africa Canada ------2001 Classic Lions Portugal/Spain ------2002 Classic Lions Canada ------2003 France Argentina - New Zealand (draw) ------2004 South Africa New Zealand ------2005 South Africa France ------2006 Classic Lions Canada ------2007 South Africa France ------2008 Classic Lions Argentina ------2009 New Zealand Argentina ------2010 New Zealand Argentina ------2011 Argentina Australia ------2012 Australia France 70 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 71 The Kevany Cup The Kevany Cup Winners 2012 RESULTS 1988 Ireland The Kevany Cup is played for by the ------Teams Results Two Ball: visiting teams and Bermuda each year at 1989 United States 1st - Argentina 1st - Martin Yanguela & John Kane the Riddells Bay Golf & Country Club on ------2nd - Classic Lions 2nd - Hayden Mexted & Andre Snyman 1990 Ireland 3rd - United States 3rd - Werner Greef & Julian Loveday the Tuesday of Classic Week. ------1991 Bermuda Named in honour of the late chairman of ------XL, Michael Kevany, an early supporter 1992 Ireland of the Classic and a golf fanatic, the Cup ------1993 Celtic Barbarians is eagerly fought for with a rumour, pos- * sibly quite true, that New Zealand always (Ireland, Scotland & Wales) ------selected the golf team and then the rugby 1994 New Zealand * team in that order. ------1995 South Africa The result was New Zealand won the ------Cup on nine occasions. 1996 New Zealand * ------1997 New Zealand Last year Argentina, many times the ------bridesmaid but never the bride, finally 1998 Classic Lions * won with the narrowest of victories over (England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales) the Classic Lions ------1999 New Zealand The very valuable Cup (it is, in fact, ------2000 Classic Lions a Waterford Crystal Bowl) sits in my ------office having been damaged while being 2001 Classic Lions * cleaned, presumably with a hammer and ------is too fragile to be moved! 2002 New Zealand ------2003 South Africa ------2004 South Africa * ------2005 New Zealand ------2006 South Africa ------2007 New Zealand ------2008 Classic Lions * ------2009 New Zealand * ------2010 New Zealand * ------2011 Cancelled ------2012 Argentina

* Golf and Rugby double

72 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 73 A View from the And by the way, would the hooker mind Not quite! they left a vacuum which passed the hooking, another new skill to learn as if “Front rows win games, referees decide power to the clubs and their new owners. Couch throwing the ball straight into the lineout by how much”. Now the English clubs are exercising wasn’t taxing enough! John Kane Anyone with an understanding of the this perceived power and it is that which The scrums had become, to the detri- is driving the Heineken Cup and a new There is an old saying in rugby that game readily appreciated the scrums ment of the game, the deciding factor in European Competition “debate” “forwards win matches, backs decide by were doing a great disservice to the sport the outcome of matches and, since they how much”. while referees, instead of being “invis- However the Rugby Union does have a ended up being a lottery, and a mystery ible”, got more TV space than the players. veto as it has to give its blessing to any It is indeed old but, sadly, it is also out- to all and sundry, well someone finally After all isn’t that why Specsavers decided new competition but, yet again, it has dated. decided that that cannot have been good to sponsor their jerseys! reverted to “waffling” while the French Forwards do indeed still win matches but, for the game. Federation has said “Non”, the Irish, Props were never meant to win rugby up to this season, it was the referees who In 1993 the total height of the English Welsh and Scottish Unions have also matches; they were there to make up the decided by how much! front row was 17ft; ten years later it was said “no” and the International Rugby numbers when I started out. Brian Moore, who “toured” Bermuda just under 20ft. or the height of a two- Board has also said “no way”. Front row forwards six feet and a half feet with the Penguins, played 64 times for storey building, while the total weight So, on the surface, it would appear that in height? England as hooker and is now a rugby went from 47 stone to 56 stone! a replacement for the Heineken Cup correspondent for the Telegraph as well The big men had moved from the second Give me a break! is dead in the water and the game of as a TV commentator, is of the opinion row to the front row and the primary pur- Club or Country! chicken is being played because the that referees haven’t a clue as to what is pose was, not to get a clean ball for the By the time this programme is produced clubs want the Heineken Cup format going on in the front row of the scrums. backs to play with, but to collect penalties. many of the comments here may well changed as well as the division of the He could be right! And with kickers such as be redundant as the “pistols at dawn” revenue. And so the laws have been amended (Wales) Owen Farrell (England) and approach to a revised Heineken Cup may The problem is that the Rugby Unions run for one season with a huge makeover, Johnny Sexton (Ireland) all having the well have been resolved. the game for the good of many while the inspired genius in some quarters but déjà ability to kick points from over 50 metres, In 1995 when the game went professional Clubs want to run the game for the good vu for those who played in the seventies! then it can be readily appreciated why the the Rugby Union “waffled” and, of themselves. scrum was the new scoring machine. Now the scrumhalf has to put the ball instead of taking control of the players, The Heineken Cup and it has become the in straight, a new skill to learn, and no “Forwards win games, backs decide by most popular club event in the game. pushing till then. how much”? The English and the French clubs weren’t always of that opinion, opting not to take part for some of the years, but now realising that it is indeed a “cash cow” and those who run it “for the good of the game” need to be philanthropic else- where! That is not to say the Clubs don’t have a point as some of the preliminary matches are too one-sided which means, as far as the clubs are concerned, dropping clubs from Scotland and Italy. But the Unions could argue the extent to which no Heineken Cup matches for Italy could well mean the return of a Five Nations Tournament rather than a Six Nations one. But perhaps the clubs might look a bit closer to home before venturing into changing the most successful club tour- nament in the world. continued on page 76 74 NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA NOVEMBER 2013 WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC BERMUDA 75 A view from the couch - cont'd from page 75 influence on the European game is on the match was the ability to meet and greet In the first Heineken Cup Final some increase. others, after the game, within the ground. 22,000 people attended while in the 2012 Whether this is a good thing remains to Those days are gone as those in section Final some 82,000 attended. be seen but there is something just a bit A can’t meet with those in section B and On the opening weekend of this season too self-serving about the present tactics when the game is over you are herded the double-header at Twickenham, invol- for a revised Heineken Cup even if that is out the way you came in, no deviating, no ving the four London clubs, had an atten- not their real aim. humour, no nonsense and no soul! dance some 20,000 less than the 2012 Could it be that some of the South African I saw my first game of international rugby Heineken Cup Final while the average clubs wants to join the lucrative European there when I was about 12 years of age, attendance in France is around 20,000. party and the only way that can happen is right on the touchline, within touching dis- Indeed the Saracens/Gloucester opening with a new tournament? tance of the players. fixture of the 2013/14 season attracted Lansdowne’s Lost Soul Sixty years later as I was herded out of just over 9,000, about the same number Lansdowne, just outside Dublin and the the Aviva I thought this could well be the which attended a football game between oldest international rugby ground in the last time! Preston and Stevenage the same day ! world, was redeveloped a few years ago, Two weeks later I went to Twickenham So one might ask why, after so many looks like a space station from Star Wars, to watch England play, a bigger sta- years of professional rugby, are the has a new name ,the , has dium, a pain in the neck to get to and grounds, already with a relatively low some of the best facilities for players in from but worth it because, for all of that, capacity level, not totally sold out for the world, bigger bars and eating emporia Twickenham hasn’t lost its soul; it is still a every game in the Premiership? and is soulless! great rugby experience. Perhaps putting one’s house in order first Whether you are a rugby enthusiast, Those responsible for running Lansdowne might be an idea. a soccer enthusiast or a pot-smoking on rugby international days could learn a Then there is the South African element rock concert enthusiast, you are treated bit from Twickenham. In fact they could of the puzzle with the notion of South by security (guys in yellow jackets!) the learn a lot if, for one day, they became Africa joining with England and France in same way: get you in, get you out and a member of the public to see what the the revised tournament. don’t hang around and mingle! experience is really like and the extent to which it has diminished in recent years! Many South Africans play in Europe, as In the old Lansdowne days, one of the well as investing in the clubs, and their great aspects of a day out an international stadium, pity about its soul!

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