The lengthy ten day rotation handover between NZ TATs 2 and 3 gave WO1 Hill a total of 26 Kiwis from which to select the nucleus of a strong rugby team and the opportunity to take the Cairo Rugby Football Club to the cleaners. The match took place on Friday, April 9. The entire New Zealand Contingent, along with members of LSU, BRITCON, FIJIBATT and HNSI, convoyed their way across the Canal into the land of the pharaohs to wage war against the sportsminded expatriate population of Cairo.
The 'man-in-white' (Sgt.Wally O'Sullivan of TAT 3) established early control of the game allowing play to flow resulting in some spectacular rugby from both teams. Cairo RFC opened the scoring midway through the first spell with a well executed try and a conversion. The score was level at the close of that spell and by the commencement of the second spell the Internationals had shaken free from jet lag, Stella fallout and hard-ground phobia. An early try started a flood of scoring manouvers which resulted in a 26-6 victory to our team. The final score was not a true indication of the game as it was only the dedicated defensive tackling of our backline that arrested the Cairo team's persistent attempts to cross our line.

Point scorers for the International Team were:

Lcpl Waqa (FIJIBATT) - two tries and two conversions
Lcpl Sevue (FIJIBATT) - two tries
Capt Broadley (TAT2) - one try
Capt Pope (TAT2) - one try

NEW ZEALAND DAY SOMEWHERE ELSE
Contibuted by Karen Tribbe 26 February 2001

Yesterday our CO gave a great briefing on the history of the NZ military. In the presence of Norwegians, Americans, Canadians, Australians, Fijians, Urugyans, Colombians (to name a few) he had us all fascinated as to the making of our beautiful little country. It seems we are inevitably linked to this desert, this Egyptian desert, the Middle East, this desert of mine. I woke up yesterday thinking, its New Zealand Day and I'm somewhere else. Initially I was envious of all of you back home, celebrating in the "traditional" way! But then, now that the day is over I realise that the kiwi contingent of the Multi-national Force and Observers shared a special day together yesterday.
It started with a medals parade at 0900 sharp. We had the Fiji Band marching us on, around in the march past, and off again. We were treated to Pokare Kare Ana (spelling?) as we were inspected by Major General Tryggve Tellefsen from Norway, the Force Commander, and the General to whom I act as Aide de Camp. We were awarded with GSMs, a clasp for those who already had GSMs, and a nod for those who already had GSM's with Sinai clasps. A proud moment for 18 of the 26 of us.
The Force Commanders rotate every three years, and it is almost time for MG Tellefsen to retire and the new Canadian General to begin on 1 March 2001. As such, Lt Col Terry Kinloch (our CO) presented him and his wife, Edel, with a Maori carving and a pounamu necklace as a farewell gift. So that he won't forget the day or the gift in a hurry, we bought the General in front of the dais and treated him to a fantastic Tika Tonu haka. If we'd have had a roof, we would have brought it down. It was a wonderful feeling.
After the parade we had contingent sports, whilst preparing the hangi for the evenings events. Although I wasn't able to attend, I hear it was nice and rough, just like the Kiwis like it! We met at the ANZAC Cove, the Australian and New Zealand contingents bar on North Camp, late in the afternoon and treated our guests to a slide show (to NZ music) of our great country, a military history lesson from Lt Col Kinloch, and a fantastic hangi. Washed down, of course, with a bit of a knees up facilitated nicely by the Fiji Dance Band. All in all it was a great day SOMEWHERE ELSE.
New Zealand has contributed troops tot the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai since its inception in 1982. The MFO observes and reports against the peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel. Despite the current troubles between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel and Egypt enjoy good relations and a lasting peace. New Zealand initially contributed personnel to the Force Aviation unit. the MFO has enjoyed one NZ Force Commander, Lt.Gen D. McIver from March 1989 to April 1991. Now we have personnel in the Operations Center, Liaison, Force Engineering, the Force Commanders staff, the New Zealand training and advisory team and a driver section. We are here for six months, and our time is up in mid-May.
Happy New Zealand Day to everyone, us Kiwis out here miss you, grass and green trees.