Jimmy Gopperth shows he has still got it at the age of 41

Veteran Jimmy Gopperth provided a new-season reminder on Friday night that he still has plenty to offer as a 41-year-old player in the pro ranks. It was the summer of 2023, having finished up at Leicester Tigers, when the Kiwi opted to try his luck in the French Pro D2.

The out-half proved to be an excellent signing, starting in 23 of his 27 appearances in a hectic campaign that ended with Provence finishing in first place on the table only to lose a promotion play-off semi-final at home to Grenoble by a point.

It was last January when Gopperth, who made an NPC debut for Wellington in 2004, spoke at length with RugbyPass about his considerable career in New Zealand, England, Ireland and now France. At the time he was unsure if he would be continuing at Provence but a one-year extension was ultimately agreed and he got his 2024/25 campaign off to a flyer at Stade Maurice David.

Provence were trailing Agen 14-18 when Gopperth was introduced off the bench for the closing 22 minutes to try and help a team that had shipped two yellow cards and a red for Guillaume Piazzoli after reaching the interval 14-13 ahead with the full complement of players.

His introduction was pivotal as he went on to score the result-clinching converted try on 73 minutes which handed Provence their 21-18 success against an Agen XV that had ex-Exeter scrum-half Jack Maunder and former Bristol winger Henry Purdy in their starting selection, with Billy Searle providing out-half cover from the bench.

Elsewhere in the opening round of the French second-tier, former England winger Jonny May was a debut-making winner for Soyaux-Angouleme following his summer switch from Gloucester. The 34-year-old, who was a Steve Borthwick pick at Rugby World Cup 2023, didn’t get on the scoresheet but he played the full 80 minutes in his new team’s 31-24 win at Aurillac.