It has been quite a week for old folk in sport. Mick McCarthy continued to show faith in 37-year-old Tony Cascarino by selecting him on the Irish squad while Kevin Keegan turned round the career of 37-year-old Stuart Pierce when he invited him onto the English squad for their European match against Luxemburg today.

Pearce, before West Ham came in, had severe difficulties in finding a Premiership team who would sign him after former Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit had told him he would never play for his side again.

Clive Woodward was also at it with Victor Ubogu whom he called back into the English rugby squad. The Bath prop who is 35 next Wednesday had initially been dropped.