Former Wallaby Star Could Be Set For Sensational Super Rugby Return At 43

Andrew Walker could be set for a sensational return to Super Rugby with the Brumbies aged 43.

The former dual-code international last played professional rugby nine years ago. He played for the Brumbies over the weekend at the Brisbane tens and turned a lot of heads, after keeping himself in excellent condition.

Brumbies boss Stephen Larkham says the coaches were half joking at first, but conceded they genuinely started thinking about what Walker would offer to an injury-hot squad.

In what would be a shock comeback story, Larkham declared the Brumbies were “open to all options”, including signing Walker, as they deal with injuries before the Super Rugby season has even started.

Walker says “the fire is still blazing” in him and will answer a call from Larkham if needed.

“I haven’t really stopped playing footy, so my fitness is pretty high,” Walker told Fairfax Media.

“I’ve probably lost about 10 per cent of speed, but I make up for that with experience. We can do things with the Brumbies and set it back on the right track again.

“The fire is still blazing, as soon as I threw the jumper on last weekend it turned into a bonfire. I was thinking, ‘how good is this?’.

Walker, who played seven Tests for the Wallabies and 145 games of NRL, has kept fit playing rugby league in Brisbane where he works as a personal trainer.

“I really, really love the Brumbies, so if there was anything I could do to help, then I’d do it in a heartbeat,” he said.

If Walker does sign he will become the oldest player to do so in Super Rugby, surpassing Brad Thorn, who was 39.