10 January 2010

The Amazing Rugby Match in Antarctica!

Posted by Dan Satterfield

Mount Erebus in the background. The match was played on frozen McMurdo Sound. A very warm 0C..

Mount Erebus in the background. The match was played on frozen McMurdo Sound. A very warm 0C..

I witnessed a real spectacle today here. Every year the Kiwis over at Scott Base and the Americans at McMurdo base have a Rugby match. Rugby is the national past time in New Zealand and they are VERY good at it. The USA has never scored a goal against them, much less won the match!

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So what was the final score??

See the picture!

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The Kiwis won again, and the USA remain scoreless! It’s the most southern rugby match in the world of course. Truly and amazing thing to see with Mount Erebus, an active volcano. smoking in the distance while the match was played on the ice of McMurdo sound.

I get up at 6am tomorrow and report to the Pegasus Ice Runway.

3 hours later, I will land in a C130 at the very bottom of the World.

The South Pole.

Current weather there is -20F with a wind chill of -30F.

Off for midnight rats and then to bed! More pics of the rugby match to come. I shot hi res. video of it too.

G’nite from McMurdo station Antarctica where it’s bright and sunny at midnight and 24F.

Dan