All Blacks 2008 Tour - Williment Sports Travel

All Blacks Supporters Tour to the UK and Ireland - Williment Sports Travel
November 2008
 
Gullivers have been working with New Zealand based Williment Sports Travel for several years and in 2008 were again appointed as the ground agent for the Autumn Internationals in the UK and Ireland.

Over 200 tourists, along with 375 'freewheelers', made the journey from New Zealand in the hope of witnessing a third Grand Slam victory against the 4 home nations. There was also a provincial match against Munster arranged, who 30 years ago famously beat Graham Mourie's All Blacks side 12-0.

Gullivers arranged all aspects of the supporters' stay, including coaches, hotels, ferries, flights, trains, lunches and sightseeing trips, for what was to be yet another outstanding success for the company.
 
After witnessing the All Blacks win over Australia in Hong Kong, 128 supporters arrived in Glasgow for their month long visit, beginning on 2 November 2008. With their experienced tour leaders Dave Loveridge, John Mcbeth, Keith Quinn, and local guides on board, the groups travelled to Edinburgh via Inverness and Pitlochry on a whistle stop tour of Scotland. After visiting sights such as Culloden Moor, Loch Ness and the Glenfiddich Distillery they were able to enjoy some free time to explore the city, and were hosted by the famous Hawick RFC one evening.

Meanwhile, a further 37 tourists, led by Bryan Williams, had arrived in London and travelled to Edinburgh by train. They too were able to enjoy some sightseeing, and visited a local farm and Portobello RC. After a convincing win over Scotland, the Williams group set sail for Belfast, with the other three coaches close behind after spending a day at St Andrews.

All groups then travelled onto Dublin, with the Williams group enjoying a guided tour of Croke Park also, before being entertained by Coolmine RFC and then watching another win over their next opposition, Ireland. The final 41 supporters also arrived in Dublin for their 'short tour' and were led by Andy Earl. At this point, the Williams and Earl groups departed for Limerick, by coach and train, whilst the others stopped in Galway for one night en-route. Here, the groups visited Garryowen RC and Bunratty Castle, prior to the All Blacks closest game of the series against Munster at Thomond Park.

All 5 groups then boarded a specially chartered Thomsonfly flight from Shannon to Cardiff, and enjoyed tours of the Millennium Stadium upon arrival. Whilst in Cardiff, all the groups were able to take tours to the Valleys with included lunches, and some dined at Cardiff Castle with a themed banquet one evening. After what began as a tight match, the All Blacks beat the current Six Nations champions and only had England to beat in order to obtain the Grand Slam. The Earl group set off to Paris, with the remaining four coaches travelling through the Cotswolds and onto Stratford-Upon-Avon for a busy few days of sightseeing. Here, they enjoyed visits to Warwick Castle, Rugby School and Museum, farms and rugby clubs before travelling to London via Oxford and Windsor, and had the opportunity to take a tour around Twickenham Stadium prior to their final match.
 
It was on match day when Gullivers arranged an exclusive event at Kneller Hall, the Royal Military School of Music, for all five groups to meet and discuss their tours over a buffet lunch, before the short walk to the stadium and perhaps the icing on the cake as New Zealand beat England with ease. After the game, they could return to Kneller Hall to watch a replay over drinks, before travelling back to their hotels or to the airport for their flights home. Some guests took the opportunity to extend their tours in London and Paris before their long journeys home, where the sun would be shining!