which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the club.

The game, between a President's Select Second XV and an Ancient Mariners old boys' team included two players forced to retire from the sport with neck injuries, a 68-year-old who played in the team's first game, and a former player who was visiting the Island on business.

Former president Pete Everson, who organised the game, explained: "It was arranged so that players who have retired from the game could play a match in the 21st century under World Rugby Classic rules.'' Everson, who was forced to give up the game in 1981 after dislocating his neck, took to the field for the first time in nearly 20 years. In the President's XV was Ben Jewett, who had also suffered a neck injury.

Added Everson: "We both had to wear red socks which meant that we couldn't be tackled, but we had to give up the ball if an opponent got too near.

"It was excellent to play again -- it was very good at the time, very bad the next day!'' Second row Jim Cornes, 68, played in the first game for the Mariners in 1976 but he had represented them in their original guise as BAA.

Meanwhile, Mike Detje, now a resident of Toronto, heard about the game while back on the Island on business and was invited to take part.

The match ended 27-22 to the President's side.

Getting to grips: The tackles fly in as an old boys' team of Ancient Mariners take on a President's Select Second XV at Nationals.