After 38 years a dream has been fulfilled for John Rainer.
The popular Gibsons barber and rugby player recently returned from a trip of a lifetime - a rugby tour in New Zealand.
Rainer joined the Evergreen Rugby Football Club, the second oldest old boys rugby club in the world, two years ago playing Sunday afternoon's at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park.
Every two years the Evergreen's go on tour and last year Rainer was asked whether he wanted to make the trip.
"Blair Hunter, who I have known for eight or nine years asked me to join the club," said Rainer. "I've never had the time between work and my family, helping to organize mini-rugby here on the Coast and baseball commitments. But as those things ended, I suddenly had some time on Sundays to play. I loved getting back into the game and then the tour came up and I thought, there was just no way I could go. For one it's pretty expensive and with family and everything there just was no way."But through the encouragement of his family, Rainer got the cash together and prepared for the trip.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and as a rugby player it simply doesn't get any better. You're going to play rugby in the Mecca of rugby," Rainer said. "It's funny. I travelled to New Zealand years ago, but never played. Now 25 years later, when I'm 50-years-old I'm heading overseas to play rugby. It's just awesome."
The trip was 18 days, with two for travel and 16 on the ground. The team flew to Auckland and played their first game in Christchurch against the Merivale Golden Oldies Maulers.
"The club is steeped in history - they've been around for 127 years," said Rainer. "Age-wise they were pretty equal to us and the game ended in a 4-4 tie. They hosted us very well after the game. We had a good meal and a few pints. It was a lot of fun."
Next it was over to Wellington for a real highlight of the trip both on the field and off.
"We got to go to their native lands and we had a traditional Maori Marae welcoming ceremony," he said. "It was really cool to be a part of that culture."The next game was in Plimmerton against the Pascoe Plimmerton Jugglers which Evergreen won 7-4.
Another highlight of the trip to Wellington was visiting the head office of Rugby New Zealand where the team got to hold the Bledsoe Cup -the oldest trophy contested between Australian and New Zealand rugby teams.
"We walk into the office and when we told the receptionist that we were a touring rugby team from Canada, she said would you like to hold the cup?" recalled Rainer. "We thought she was joking, but she was serious. It was a real cool moment. It's like holding up the Stanley Cup."
After some more sightseeing time, the squad headed back to Auckland for their final two games against the Glenfield Grizzlies and Pakuranga U.R.F.C.
In both of these games Evergreen was clearly outmanned, out muscled and outplayed, but to Rainer it really didn't matter.
"The age difference was certainly not on our side," he said. "But we had a lot of fun. Both teams hosted us well, we traded jerseys, traded stories and just enjoyed the games. The ref was certainly on our side in the game against Pakuranga. There were several mystery calls that went in our favour.
"Those games are what rugby tours are all about - the camaraderie of the sport. That's why I love rugby so much."He said watching the two teams play the game was also quite awe-inspiring.
"The game play was so fluid and precise, it was amazing to watch how good these guys were," Rainer said. "Next to my marriage and my kids the trip was a top moment in my life. It was everything I wanted and more. I was a rugby player in rugby heaven. It just doesn't get much better than that."
