World class Wales international comes out of retirement at 53 to play in same team as his son

What better way to mark your son’s 21st birthday than to play alongside him some 18 years after your last competitive game of rugby.

That’s precisely what former Wales prop Peter Rogers did on the weekend as he came out of retirement at the age of 53.

The 18-times capped loosehead lined up for St Peters 2nds against Abercynon 2nds, joining his flanker son Jack in the home pack.

Unexpectedly starting the match for the Cardiff club, he had a 45 minute run-out and loved it so much he is considering playing again.

The latest rugby news from the Six Nations

“It was a totally off the cuff thing,” he explains.

“Jack had been playing for the firsts, but he got Covid and couldn’t train for a few weeks.

“He was due to be a travelling reserve on the weekend, but he said he would rather play a full game for the seconds.

“So the team manager of the seconds texted me and said they were really proud of Jack for doing that.

“He then said ‘By the way, we are really short in the front row’ and he put a little emoji with a fishing rod and a hook on it!

“I thought, well it’s my boy’s 21st and it would be lovely to play with him on his birthday and make it a special day.

“So I texted the team manager back and said ‘If you are that short, I wouldn’t mind’.”

It was then a matter of digging out the old boots and getting ready for his big comeback.

“When I went down into the kitchen in the morning, I banged my chest and said ‘Game day today, boys!’” reveals Rogers.

“Jack still lives at home, so we drove to the club together. It was like proper game day.

“I was thinking I might get on for the last 20 minutes.

“But we got into the changing room and the captain goes ‘Do you mind starting?’

“I had no choice, I said go on then.”

For Rogers, who