Ma Nonu and who in the current crop of pro players can you still see playing at this level in their 40's?

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Not like his best ever highlights, but 43 years old this year and playing in the highest level in arguably the most physical league
To put in respective his debut v England this was the line ups

New Zealand: D Howlett; J Rokocoko, M Nonu, T Umaga, C Ralph; C Spencer, J Marshall; D Hewett, A Oliver, G Somerville, C Jack, A Williams, R Thorne (capt), R McCaw, R So'oialo.
Replacements: M Muliaina, D Carter, S Devine, J Collins, B Thorn, C Hoeft, K Mealamu.

England: J Lewsey; J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, K Bracken; G Rowntree, S Thompson, J Leonard, M Johnson, B Kay, R Hill, N Back, L Dallaglio.
Replacements: D West, P Vickery, S Borthwick, J Worsley, A Gomarsall, P Grayson, D Luger.

IDK thought it deserved it's own thread


So who can you still see playing at this level in their 40's?

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Honestly mental, hats off to him

 

[TRF_Olyy]

K Bracken

Pretty mad that there's a possibility Nonu could play against Bracken's son this weekend

 

[saulan]

So who can you still see playing at this level in their 40's?

Depends what we mean by at the highest level? Do you mean within a top tier club competition (I.e. Top 14, URC, Premiership, Super Rugby). Do we exclude MLR and Japan Rugby League One?

Stormers currently have one of these players, but he never made it to the Springboks. Brok Harris is currently 40 and has been playing club rugby since 2005. He was meant to come to the Stormers just to be a coach, but then we had a player shortage due to injuries and he has played four more years. He generally is on the bench, but still has semi-regular starts for us.

Our next closest player is Deon Fourie who turns 39 this year and has picked up test matches for the Springboks and was part of the last World Cup, and technically was the on field captain when we won the final. He might make it to playing at 40, but I do wonder if he will make it as he has picked up some injuries in the last year and a half.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Depends what we mean by at the highest level? Do you mean within a top tier club competition (I.e. Top 14, URC, Premiership, Super Rugby). Do we exclude MLR and Japan Rugby League One?

Stormers currently have one of these players, but he never made it to the Springboks. Brok Harris is currently 40 and has been playing club rugby since 2005. He was meant to come to the Stormers just to be a coach, but then we had a player shortage due to injuries and he has played four more years. He generally is on the bench, but still has semi-regular starts for us.

Our next closest player is Deon Fourie who turns 39 this year and has picked up test matches for the Springboks and was part of the last World Cup, and technically was the on field captain when we won the final. He might make it to playing at 40, but I do wonder if he will make it as he has picked up some injuries in the last year and a half.

Yeah within top tier club rugby
Not counting MLR, potentially League one in Japan can't decide if the faster game suits age or not really

 

[saulan]

Yeah within top tier club rugby
Not counting MLR, potentially League one in Japan can't decide if the faster game suits age or not really

Just did some checking in the other SA squads and no one else comes close (closest being Trevor Nyakane or Willie Le Roux that are at the 35 year old mark) -which I can't see going to 40.

The equivalent players of around the same age as Nonu from the Springboks side are Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, Jacques Fourie, Juan Smith, Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar and Bryan Habana. Imagine Habana was still playing and we didn't have to have endured the slow to turn advert?

I think Pienaar made it to 40 and was still playing, but retired last year.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Could see a guy like George Ford being capable of going til he's in his 40s. His game doesn't rely too much on athleticism as much as skill, he's not in too many high impact collisions, he's not had too many bad injuries, he clearly takes great care of himself. The only reason I'd see him not going that long is because he may choose to turn to coaching before that (think he's pretty much guaranteed to go down that route after his playing career).

Think it's a lot harder to play for that long as a forward but Jamie George is another who I could see making a decent go of it, for similar reasons to Ford. Game relies more on skill than physical attributes, and hasn't had many (any?) serious injuries.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Could see Bundee bouncing around France for a few years post 2027. Beyond 2030 is a big ask though.

I think a few players who left at international level could have, from the last world cup Sexton ans Aaron Smith definitely had a few more years at elite club level in them imo, neither looked like they were hanging on. Considering JGP has essentially turned himself into an Aaron Smith dupe I could see him going on a bit.

Whether or not it's worth is is the real question, all players in their 30s talk about how much more important recovery becomes and how much more needs to be done, the mental toll must be huge.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Dan Cole will be 38 in a few weeks - he could easily do a few more seasons, his game isn't exactly built around fast twitch fibres and he doesn't have a terrible injury record - will more depend on what his plans are post rugby

Jimmy Gopperth is still playing at Provence, at 42, and they could get promoted from Pro D2 this season

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Dan Cole will be 38 in a few weeks - he could easily do a few more seasons, his game isn't exactly built around fast twitch fibres and he doesn't have a terrible injury record - will more depend on what his plans are post rugby

Jimmy Gopperth is still playing at Provence, at 42, and they could get promoted from Pro D2 this season

Yeah now that Heyes has become third choice you could think Cole could do another few seasons as a 2nd/3rd choice option.
When you think about Cole stats are crazy imo
Since 2007
337 Tigers games
116 England games
3 British Irish lions games
Over 17 seasons he has averaged 26.8 games a season (With this one not over)? Too be that consistent over that long a time is crazy to me let alone at TH