Scoop bulletin: NZ Ambassadors XV Rugby vs. US

by Connie Lawn

The NZ Ambassadors XV Rugby Team beat the US Combined Services Rugby Team by 40 points to 21. The match took place on Sunday (Washington time), November 14th. This is the special Ambassador's Shield Rugby Match, which has taken place in the Washington area every year since 1997. But it has exploded in size and popularity. The NZ team featured players who came from across the US and NZ. Some even snuck in from other countries, but they did us proud. The American competition was tough, polished, and disciplined They came from all branches of the US Armed Forces. They soon learned how fierce the NZ team could be.

The weather was perfect - warm and sunny. Strange weather for November, which is supposed to be autumn here. Over a thousand people must have flocked to the fields to watch a series of seven matches. The most exciting, of course, was the NZ one. Afterwards, about 350 lucky people crammed into the beautiful NZ Embassy in Washington for delicious food, drinks, speeches, and friendship. This is the first Ambassador's Shield hosted by Ambassador Mike Moore and his wife Yvonne. They just came up from NZ a few days ago, and did a noble job of hiding any exhaustion (he returned home briefly for the Hillary Clinton visit).

The Ambassador's Shield matches help to promote rugby in the US, and raise money for the Hyde School and other charities. Hyde students are largely African-Americans, and are working hard to compete and succeed in life. Some of their lucky rugby players won trips to NZ in the past, and others hope to have the same fortune.

While several groups contribute to this rugby event, there is a special partnership between the Shield and AUT University in Auckland. Several of their officers came up for the event, including its Chancellor, Sir Paul Reeves. Others who came up from NZ included All Black heroes Michael Jones and Frano Botica. They coached some American players over the weekend, without giving away any trade secrets.

Washington can be a serious, self satisfied city. It takes some good Kiwis to show us the importance of sport and zest for life! ....Connie Lawn

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photo of Yvonne and Mike Morre at NZ Embasy in Washiington is attached.

ENDS

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