Jimmy Gopperth went to within a fortnight or so of turning 42 when he finally ran out of road down in Aix-en-Provence at the start of last summer.

The evergreen New Zealander was still coming to terms with retirement when another fly-half of not dissimilar vintage opted out of his.
Benjamin Urdapilleta will be the next seasoned pro to stretch his career into the 40s.
The Argentinian responded to a distress call from Perpigan by reaching for the boots he left hanging on the dressing room peg at Clermont after what was supposed to have been his last season in the Top 14.

Veteran: Leigh Halfpe...