Elvis still has a few more hits left in him

By Peter Jackson

Old rock ‘n’ rollers dusting down their blue suede shoes for the new season will rejoice at the revelation that Elvis is back on top of a chart of sorts.

The Elvis in question, as in Taione of Tongan fame, warmed up for the new season on behalf of the Ospreys at Northampton on Friday night.

Three months into his 40th year, Elvis Taione is the most senior professional to be found in Britain, Ireland or France, no mean feat considering the competition. It takes some stamina to outlast such figures as Richard Wigglesworth, Jimmy Gopperth, John Afoa and Sergio Parisse.

Elvis the Osprey has a few months to spare on the Italian who turns 39 in eight days and a few weeks on the oldest member of those revving up on the Top 14‘s starting grid, Bordeaux’s 39-year-old prop Vadim Cobilas.