Tommy Vile and Danny Care were born in the same decade of different centuries, the former in Newport during the first half of the 1880s, the latter in Leeds during the second half of the 1980s.
The Welshman’s record for the longest international career by any British player has stood for more than 100 years. And it will probably stand for another 100 now that Care has hung up his England boots.
As an England veteran of more than 15 years, the ageless Harlequin had gone to within less than 12 months of outstaying Vile when he called it quits. Both did so at the age of 37.
What made Vile’s 16-...