Gorillas on pointless run

THEY claim to be the world champions of “golden oldies” rugby union but they have never won a game.

After more than 30 years in existence, the Surfers Paradise Gorillas golden rugby side have never kept score of a match.

Club president Roger Trimmer said that keeping score was not what golden rugby is about.

“We like to call ourselves the undefeated world champions,” Trimmer said.

“But we don’t care too much about the score. It is all about the camaraderie that comes with playing in a rugby team.”

The Gorillas were first established in 1983 by a group of ex-rugby union players who got together to play in a “golden oldies” carnival in Sydney.

Golden Rugby shares the same principle as rugby union but with modified rules to ensure the older players are less prone to injury.

Players over the age of 60 wear red shorts, 65-year-olds wear gold shorts and players older than 70 don the purple trunks.

“If they are wearing red shorts you are not allowed to tackle them and they run for five to 10m and pass the ball,” Trimmer said.

“If you are wearing purple shorts then there is definitely no touch, we just put our hands in the air.

“We played one tournament where there was a 90-year-old on the field. We basically just lay on the ground whenever he got the ball.”

Since their formation the side have travelled the world to play in tournaments including Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.

Foundation member John Gallent said players lived by their motto “fun, friendship and fraternity” as they travel to tournaments to share a beer with like-minded rugby fans.

“It is an excellent way to raise a thirst,” the 74-year-old said.

“Instead of a sin-bin we have a ‘tin-bin’ where you are sent to have a drink if you score a try.”

The team will now prepare for the biggest tournament of the year, the annual “Nash Bash” Golden Rugby tournament, taking place in Lennox Head, NSW this weekend.