The Grande Olde Boars combined with the Bega Blue Veins for the tournament, playing three New Zealand teams over a seven-day period.

Batemans Bay players in the team were Allan Bright, Nick Harding, Greg Humphries, Greg Williams, Scotty Connell, Mal Husband, Dave Bailey, John Drynan, Ronnie Collier, Dave Walmsley, Denny Spillane, and Peter Ryan.

Games are not scored, with every match up finishing in a draw. However, teams are split into three different divisions based on their abilities.

The Boars were in the middle division, and played against three New Zealand teams: the Shirley W’s, the Vegas Locos, and the Saracens Saggy Sacks.

Peter Ryan, one of the oldest members of the Grande Olde Boars, said all players enjoyed the experience.

“We survived, we’re in one piece,” he said.

“It was a fantastic experience; the organisers did a fantastic job.

“It was well planned, well run, and transport was included. The three functions they held were excellent with the dinners and entertainment.”

The main purpose of the event was the rugby, but many of the players took the opportunity to have a little holiday.

“Half of us took our partners, and they were included as well,” Ryan said. 

“It was great that we had a mix of both there, and everyone was catered for.”

Ryan said the side performed admirably, with a good mix of skill and experience.

“We performed quite well,” he said. “There were three different gradings; we hoped to be in the lowest, but were in the middle.

“Half our team was quite well suited there, but the other half wasn’t matched to it at all.”

The on-field highlight didn’t come until their final game, when they managed to recruit a former Wallaby into the squad.

“We recruited Stephen Larkham to play for us,” he said. “He was able to step up to our standard, and performed quite well.”

Larkham owns a house in the Batemans Bay area, and has been a guest at past functions run by the Batemans Bay Boars.

“Luckily a lot of the Bay blokes have met him before,” Ryan said. “A lot of the New Zealand blokes couldn’t believe that he arrived in a Batemans Bay jersey.”

Planning will now start for the next Golden Oldies carnival in two years time.

“They announced it will be in Denver, Colorado while we were there,” Ryan said. “Everyone was excited to go at the time it was announced, but we’ll see how time sorts it out.”

The whole week was memorable for Ryan, but one moment sticks out.

“I got the first try for Batemans Bay,” he said. “I thought I was 90 metres out when I got the ball, but I might have been only 10 metres out.

“I don’t care though, I still got it. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.”