The “Vintage Ports” were formed in 1982 by Pirates Club stalwarts Barry Stent, Kevin Owens, Robert “Benny” Bennett and other rugby luminaries at the time. Early players were Terry “Rocky” Kendall, Paul “Mungo” McLean, the late Bob Williams, Tony “Clever” Edwards, Rick Thresher, Alan Stuck, Reg Smith, Frank Arnell, Kevin “Poppy” Pollard, Tony Davies, Brett Scott, Mark Hatherly and many more.

The first formal tour was to the World Golden Oldies Festival in Sydney in 1983. During the next decade the emphasis was mainly on playing games locally and at regional centres in Tamworth, Coffs Harbour and Kempsey.

In 1994, Alan Stuck convinced a group of enthusiasts, to enter a team in the 1995 Christchurch NZ, World Festival and with the help of Kevin McLachlan and Terry Kendall the Vintage Ports were resurrected.

Since then the “Ports” have attended World Festivals in Capetown, South Africa in 1998. This Festival was followed by a tour of Zimbabwe in what was an unforgettable experience.

The next Festival was Toulouse, France in 2001 with many participants enjoying side trips to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Morocco and many more interesting countries.

A home World Festival was next in Brisbane 2003, then San Diego in 2005 with side trips to Canada, Mexico and internal USA.

Last year in 2006 the “Ports” went to Wellington NZ, which was steeped in rugby tradition, as you would imagine.

The “Ports” next World Festival will be in Edinburgh, Scotland commencing 1st September 2008. Kevin McLachlan will be this Tour Co-Ordinator and anyone interested in joining the Ports should contact him on 65 833080 (h) or 65 841550 (b) or email at kevshaz3@bigpond.net.au.

The “Ports” don’t just survive on World Festivals but keep their skills honed with Thursday night “training” runs and the usual yearly calendar looks like this.

• Play Walcha in Port during trials in February
• Host a Gala Day for Mid North Coast and Newcastle sides 1st weekend in March at Stuart Park, PMQ
• Play the local Hastings Valley Wrinkled Horns as a curtain raiser to the Pirates V Vikings first competition game
• Play South West Rocks and Maitland Old Bones on alternate years on the long weekend in June
• Play the Wrinkled Horns when the Pirates & Vikings meet in the second round
• Attend the Manning Mongrels/Forster Festival in October, which is perhaps the longest established festival on the Mid North Coast.
• Other games are played on a reciprocal basis with Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Newcastle Welsh and other teams.

The Club has an active Committee and are always looking for new players/members who wish to join in the fun of social rugby, as it should be played.