Anthony Stephenson, a Milson Rotary Club member, recently took a trip with his family to the States and Canada, a place he was eager to show his two boys.
His Canadian adventure all started one night in a pub in Palmerston North, when he bumped into a guy from Vancouver. Fast forward to 1991, and at the age of 19, Anthony and his mates were off to Vancouver to play senior rugby. He travelled around Vancouver, Seattle, and Vancouver Island, playing against teams with players who were new to rugby but played with the same intensity as ice hockey.
“Sharing this experience with my boys was a special moment, giving them a glimpse of what it was like for me at their age”. AnthonyStephenson
Anthony had kept in touch with many of the players through social media. So during his trip, they had a reunion at the club rooms. He said it was heartwarming to see the club thriving with new facilities and a range of teams from five-year-olds to senior rugby. The club had come a long way since the early days when everything revolved around pubs and drinking.
One memorable experience he recounted, was playing in an Arctic freeze at -28°C. Despite the freezing temperatures, they trained and played - the game fortunately was called off at halftime due to the cold. Another amusing memory was dealing with Canadian geese that left the field covered in droppings after games, requiring extra long showers to get clean afterwards.
Anthony said the Rugby club had taken great care of them during their stay, providing accommodation and covering most of their costs. It was a fantastic experience, and it was wonderful to see the club members still active and planning to come to Australia for the World Cup in 2027.
“Sharing this experience with my boys was a special moment, giving them a glimpse of what it was like for me at their age”. AnthonyStephenson