Love of rugby keeps 63yo in the game

John Blackett
John Blackett

John Blackett does something that no other 63 year old does in New Zealand. He plays club rugby every weekend for the Sumner Sharks.

"It's good fun - I guess when I can't do it I'll quit," he says.

John plays with players who are forty years younger, and even his son Kyle - who is 36 years his junior.

"It's like watching that big steam tractor come in from behind and push the whole group," says Kyle.

"He's always been a bit of a role model, and an icon for the team and the rugby club. Pretty entertaining, he's got a lot of passion behind him [and] loves getting amongst it for an old fella - you think he's 21 again."

John says by halftime, he is pretty shattered.

But despite that, he believes he could still be running around for the Sharks when he's 70.

Newshub.