TEAMS from a total of 18 countries have so far signed up for what is shaping as the biggest rugby festival ever staged in Edinburgh.
The Air New Zealand World Golden Oldies event is scheduled for the Capital from September 1-8 with participants travelling from as far afield as American Samoa and the Cook Islands.
Hosts Scotland will be well represented by contributing 19 of the
125 teams including Edinburgh Accies, Forrester and a combined side based mainly on Watsonians and Heriot's players.
Most prolific entry is from Australia, who will have 37 teams ranging from Alice Springs to Dubbo while Japan and USA are also well represented.
Former Scotland and Lions full back Gavin Hastings has been appointed festival ambassador and, in a message to the 3000 participants, said: "My abiding hope is that you leave Scotland with a lasting legacy of Golden Oldies rugby so that our generation of players rediscover the unique experience of playing social rugby all round the world."
Such views are echoed by Stewart Maxwell, Communities and Sport minister, who said: "Our country, particularly Edinburgh, has a strong rugby heritage which is recognised around the world. This is highlighted by the recent success in securing the Heineken Cup Final for a second time, returning to Murrayfield in 2009.
"Golden Oldies is now part of this heritage."
A key element of the festival, which will feature matches being held in Roseburn Park and Saughton Park, is the wearing of different coloured shorts determined by a player's age. Players aged up to 59 will wear either white or red shorts, the latter signifying that they do not want to be tackled to the ground or pushed off their feet.
According to the rules, those in the 60-64 age-group wear red shorts meaning they "can be claimed, not tackled."
Gold shorts worn by the 65-69 year olds indicate tackling is taboo while purple shorts are for those venerables who "cannot be touched".
It is anticipated there will be some players aged over 80 taking part with special variations of rugby law applied throughout. These include uncontested scrums while matches will be staged over three periods of 20 minutes with unlimited substitutions.
A variety of social events are also lined up, starting with the opening ceremony at Edinburgh Castle esplanade, a parade of nations down the Royal Mile and a party in George Square Gardens to a 'Highland Fling' at Musselburgh Racecourse that includes camel racing.
The closing dinner will be held at Ingliston.
The full article contains 428 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
