Club 35 and over: We pick our best XV of veterans still playing despite pushing 40

Add as a preferred source on Google
Deon Fourie and Mike Brown split

Gone are the days of retiring in your early 30s, as a large chunk of elite players are showing that age is no barrier as they continue to impress.

Some of these veterans are even producing their best form as they approach their 40s, and we salute how they’re prolonging their careers at the top.

Players in the modern era obviously take much better care of themselves whether that’s through diet, recovery or workload, and it is paying dividends.

We have made a selection of those still playing top-class rugby after hitting the 35 years old mark, so without further ado, here’s our Club 35 line-up.

Club 35 and over XV

15 Mike Brown (37): It is perhaps fitting that we begin with a player who made a point on camera after shining for Leicester Tigers that players are wrongly written off when they get to a certain age. Harlequins’ loss has been Leicester’s gain it seems as Brown is continuing to produce the goods and is set to continue next season after recently signing a new contract. The former England international hasn’t lost a step around the field and looks in fine form.

14 Chris Ashton (36): Staying at Welford Road for our right wing and recent Premiership try centurion, Ashton is another to have enjoyed a superb career at the highest level. Starting out in rugby league at Wigan, he then switched to union and dominated both the club and Test game thanks to his incredible ability to run a profitable support line. Munster’s Keith Earls and the Bulls’ Conral Hendricks are two other veterans still putting on the boots.

13 Ma’a Nonu (40): Yes, 40. Nonu is currently playing in Major League Rugby in the USA at San Diego Legion and clearly isn’t ready to hang up the boots just yet. While the All Blacks great predominantly plays at inside centre for Legion, we simply had to find a place for him in our XV, so we shifted him to a spot he’s played before in his career. Scarlets’ Jonathan Davies (35) and Western Province favourite Juan de Jongh (35) are also still playing.

12 Frans Steyn (35): In with a shout of playing at his fourth Rugby World Cup this year in France if he can recover from injury, Steyn has carved out a superb career since making his Springboks debut as a fresh-faced 19-year-old. Currently playing for the Cheetahs in the Free State – where it all began – the centre has a knee issue that he’ll be desperate to return from in time for the global showpiece. Jimmy Gopperth (39) is still going strong at Leicester.

11 Nemani Nadolo (35): One of the great wings who is often somehow still under-appreciated by some, Nadolo has been a star of Super Rugby, Top 14, the Premiership and Japan’s Top League during an incredible career. It’s sad that he’ll hang up his boots at the end of the season, but we might get the perfect sign-off in Fiji colours at the Rugby World Cup. Still an unbelievable finisher and gainline breaker, there’s few better wide men in the game in a one-on-one.

10 Johnny Sexton (37): Three outstanding playmakers who have been there, seen it and done it were in the shake-up for our 10 shirt, with Quade Cooper (35) and Morne Steyn (38) two vintage fly-halves. However, the Ireland veteran continues to win big game after big game for both province and country and will of course be vital to Ireland’s hopes of backing up their fine form in recent times with their best Rugby World Cup showing to date this year.

9 Danny Care (36): It seems the half-back positions are most suited to those advancing in years as the likes of Will Genia (35), Francois Hougaard (35), Willi Heinz (36), Ruan Pienaar (39) and Fumiaka Tanaka (38) immediately sprung to mind in our thinking. Care though continues to shine in the Premiership and Champions Cup for Harlequins and has added real control to his game at the base whilst also keeping his customary sniping threat in his locker.

8 Duane Vermeulen (36): Nicknamed ‘Thor’ due to his similarities with the superhero, Vermeulen is a firm South African favourite who is currently playing for Ulster in the United Rugby Championship. His place in the Springboks’ starting line-up might be under threat from Jasper Wiese, but it would be bold to write Vermeulen off making another Rugby World Cup squad. He’s certainly got another major tournament left in him, and no doubt the Bok coaches think so too.

7 Deon Fourie (36): Joining Vermeulen in the back-row is Stormers stalwart Fourie, who probably deserves the most credit in this pack due to the incredible physical condition he remains in. A favourite of ours back when the Stormers were competing for Super Rugby titles and Fourie’s specialist position was hooker, the 36-year-old and oldest-ever Springbok debutant has a new lease of life as he led the youthful Capetonians to a maiden URC success last season.

6 Dan Lydiate (35): The Ospreys and Wales stalwart has seemed rejuvenated this past season and will be looking to press his own case for Rugby World Cup selection under head coach Warren Gatland, who is obviously a fan. Known for his defensive qualities, it’s been reported that Lydiate is without a contract next season. Judging from his form and the player’s eagerness to continue, surely he will be snapped up or re-signed by Ospreys in the coming weeks.

5 Alun Wyn Jones (37): From one Ospreys to another, Jones continues to defy his critics who feel his time is up at the highest level. His showing against the Wallabies in the end-of-year Tests rolled back the years and showed he still has so much to offer, especially with the Rugby World Cup approaching. Tireless, hungry and most importantly, experienced in high-pressure environments, his longevity needs applauding, especially in a position that demands so much.

4 Leone Nakarawa (35): Currently at Castres, Nakarawa made a name for himself at Glasgow Warriors before switching to Racing 92. The Fijian has been a joy to watch throughout his career, not just in the club game but for his country as well. While former Springbok flank Willem Alberts is still running out at the age of 38 for the Lions, there was little debate about our number four lock. Imagine Nakarawa and Jones lining up together in their prime.

3 Dan Cole (35): Unsurprisingly, there were plenty to choose from in the tighthead shirt as Owen Franks (35), WP Nel (36), Vadim Cobilas (39), Charlie Faumuina (36), and Lourens Adriaanse (35) were some of the veterans we spotted still doing the business. Cole though, like many on this list, has reinvented himself as a player as the game has moved on and is back in the international frame for England. A solid scrummager who has admirably developed other areas of his game well.

2 Agustin Creevy (38): Another position of immense quality with Dane Coles (36), Shota Horie (37), Bismarck du Plessis (38) and perhaps the most unlucky player to miss out, Ken Owens (36), pressing hard for our two jersey. Creevy though has so many admirers and is a rock at the set-piece and breakdown, defying his years to continue at the very highest level for both London Irish and Argentina. What a signing the talismanic Pumas hooker has been for the Exiles.

1 Brok Harris (38): Last but by no means least, we finish with a player who has been going for what seems like forever. We are not talking about Cheetahs veteran and public disturbance diffuser Schalk Ferreira (39) but another South African, Harris. The Stormers and Western Province prop made his name in Cape Town before spending seven years at the Dragons in Wales, but has since returned home and is mixing Currie Cup with URC rugby in his final years. His ability to seamlessly switch between loosehead and tighthead continues to impress. Elsewhere, Leinster and Ireland legend Cian Healy is still producing top drawer performances as the age of 35.

READ MORE: Retiring XV: Class of 2023 from the Premiership, Top 14, URC and Super Rugby Pacific

Argentina Ma'a Nonu Mike Brown

Related Articles