Oldest Rugby Player In Wales Picked For Team At The Age Of 73

John Cummings has a small point of order he’d like to make after news of his appearance for a Welsh rugby team went public on social media.

“If you read the bit where it said I’m 74, I’m not,” he laughs. “I’m 73 – so they were only a year off.” That one candle off the birthday cake doesn’t exactly take the sheen off Cummings’ tale.

Last weekend, he turned out – at the age of 73 – for Old Illtydians Seconds in their league opener against Llandaff Thirds. Almost a decade ago, he probably had good cause to believe he was the oldest player in Wales.

Now, there’s surely little doubt.

“It was only a few minutes,” he tells WalesOnline. “I’ll tell you why I wanted to play.

“It was just before Covid hit. I was 64 and the game I played was against Llandaff North. Then there was Covid and I had bowel cancer.

“So obviously, once I got over that and Covid was out of the way, we were never able to put out a second team until last Saturday. And I just wanted to put things to bed, have a few minutes and then say: ‘That’s my lot for rugby’.

“So that’s why I had those few minutes out there.”

For a man who has spent 50-odd years involved with the Cardiff club, it’s surprising that he didn’t play a great deal of rugby in school.

“I suppose I started when I was about 18,” he says. “I had a couple of years with Cardiff Saracens and then I went to the Illtydians when I was about 20 or 21.”

Half a century later, he’s still enjoying it – playing walking rugby as well. “I still love it,” he said. “I don’t miss a Saturday.

“I try to do my little bit, putting the pads on and the flags out – helping wherever I can. It’s just being together with the boys, isn’t it?

“It’s good for your mental health, as well as trying to keep yourself a little bit fit.”

Previously, Cummings had admitted that the secret to his longevity was a pint or three before kick-off. Sadly, those days are no more.

“I live in Llanharan, so I’ve got to drive in,” he admits. “I’m not saying I didn’t years ago, mind, when I was playing – but that’s another story.

“When I was playing, I always used to have a few pints. You never felt the blows during the game. But Sunday morning – oh dear. You felt them twice as hard!”

With so many years spent playing rugby, there are, unsurprisingly, too many highlights to mention. Cummings has played against veterans rugby on the Arms Park, as well as out in Toulouse.

He also captained the side to victory in the Ron Lucock Cup. But those are just some of the moments he’ll remember.

“They’re all good times,” he says, “whether you won, lost, drew or whether you took a good battering.”

So, if this is to be it, just how did those final minutes on the pitch turn out?

“Not that good, to be honest,” he laughs. “I got myself into a silly position after a ruck, where I was right in the scrum-half’s eye-line.

“I’ve never got myself into that position before. I didn’t want the ball. I’ve always said, ‘Whatever you do, don’t give the ball to Johnny Cummings’.

“But he’s thrown the ball to me, and one of their boys – who I think was offside – has given me a right good bashing!

“So,” he admits with a laugh, “I think in that moment, as I was flying through the air and landing on my back, that was one game too far! That made the decision for me, I think.

“But, to be quite honest with you, I wouldn’t have wanted to go out there and wandered around, doing nothing. As long as I had the ball in my hand, taking a good wallop, I was part of the game.”

Of course, in years to come, that carry could easily become a 20-metre line break to those who will listen. Then again, when you’ve played the game for as long as Cummings, embellishment isn’t exactly something you need.

“A one-yard flop over the line, that was about the best I could do,” he laughs. “But it was a bit of fun. It was a talking point for some people, and a laughing point.”

Source: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/oldest-rugby-player-wales-picked-34603055

#walkingrugby #walkingsports #walkingsport

Looking for walking rugby gear? Browse our hand-picked Walking Rugby casual wear & giftsBrowse Recommendations →As an Amazon Associate, Walking Football Limited earns from qualifying purchases. These are independently selected products from other sellers, not our own brand.