Tom Court judges it to perfection in London

When 34-year-old Tom Court considers how much time he might have left as a professional rugby player, he looks no further than former Irish international Peter Stringer for inspiration.

The 37-year-old Stringer has just about settled into another year of Aviva Premiership activity, this time with Sale Sharks, and he will undoubtedly come up against Court during the season.

“I’d kill to be in his shape,” admitted the former Ulster prop of Stringer. “He’s been doing brilliantly in England these last few seasons, gets better with age, although I suppose he wouldn’t quite work out in the front row!”