OLDER rugby players will be reminiscing at Wainuiomata Rugby Club’s annual Old Timers Day this Saturday at its home ground, William Jones Park.
Plenty of activities are planned for on and off the field.
Games start at 9am with junior rugby, and other games will include the Wainuiomata High School 1st XV and the club’s top two teams. At 3pm, the premier team is playing Upper Hutt and will be hoping to capture the cup the two teams play for for the first time since their promotion to the top division back in 2007. The evening’s entertainment begins at 6.30pm.
Wainui’s Premier team huddle before a game
Former Wainui player and now referee Campbell Barry says: “It’s a day where past and present players, coaches, managers, volunteers and supporters can come together and enjoy each other’s company over a few cold beverages and the common love for the game.”Every rugby club has an Old Timers Day. The are good for bringing in revenue through the bar, and the players enjoy playing in front of a passionate home crowd.
Wainui club members are looking forward to their Old Timers event where they will be enjoying the comradeship with friends and family in the packed-out clubrooms.
They see it as a good opportunity to celebrate past achievements of the club and give its former members a chance to catch up and remember the good old days.
“Old Timers Day is not just a recognition of rugby in our community, it is a day that celebrates the fantastic impact our local club has had, and continues to have, on our community,” says Campbell.
There ought to be a sea of green and black on the day, as the club has been selling a fair few supporters’ jerseys.
The club was formed in 1946 and has been enjoying success in recent years, which has brought back a lot of supporters.
After a slow start this year, the team has won the last three games so will be confident of finally getting their hands on a trophy they haven’t had for so long.
William Jones Park, home of the Wainui rugby club