We’re into the fifteenth season of professional rugby, and remarkably, the professional ranks still include players who made their debut at representative and international level when the game was nominally amateur.
George Gregan, 37 on April 19, made his debut for the Wallabies in 1994. In 2010, he’s still going round as a professional player in Japan.
Andrew Mehrtens, 37 on April 28, came into the Canterbury NPC team in 1993 and the All Blacks in 1995. In 2010, he’s turning out for Racing Metro in the French Top 14.
He’s playing pretty well too, although somehow he never quite seems to be around when tackling is required.
Last but not least, Carlos Spencer, still relatively youthful at 34. He was only 16 when he first played NPC rugby for Horowhenua in 1992 and was blooded by the All Blacks in 1995.
In 2010, he is really up against it in the Super 14, trying to breathe some life into the toothless Lions.
Any others?
hughesy
Guest
The good old days - just thinking of all those great 1st 5s playing overseas no wonder nz has no depth in that position anymore - imagine how good it would be for the current young fellas cutting their teeth against or alongside brown, spencer or mehrtens in the npc.
mattamkII
Guest
Tony Brown - still playing in Japan. Saw him in a Tokyo pub a few weeks ago.
chris
Guest
Gregan and Carlos Spencer still at the top for the past 15-17 years thats amazing.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
What about Sean Hardman and Justin Harrison .... they must both be close ... is Toutai Kefu another?
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
Alan Quinlan & Julian White. I can't think of any more. Simon Easterby, Malcolm O'Kelly, Martyn Williams or Danny Grewcock perhaps?
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Simon Shaw. John Hayes? Mike Catt. Mefin Davies. Must be a few others...
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
I think rather than listing the players still around from that era, we should highlight a point made by it. It demonstrates that Rugby as a proffesional code is still relatively young with a lot ahead of it. people keep arguing that rugby has nothing and its destroying itself etc, but they fail to highlight that 15 years in a developmental industry, which relies on growing with history is a relatively small time period. hopefully in the next 5-10 years it will start to grow rapidly as predicted but until then, there are still remainders from the past, which highlight how close we are still to the amateur, non commercial era of rugby.