Double take as Burnside rugby union legends share amazing 500-game milestone on same day
Two players playing a club record 500 games on the same day, for the same club? Michael De Vizio and Mike Deacon will do just that for Burnside rugby club on Saturday.
It’s not every day that someone plays 500 games at any level of sport, but two rugby players each bringing up the same milestone on the same day, playing for the same club?
Unheard of.
This weekend, Michael De Vizio and Mike Deacon will take the field representing the Burnside Rugby Union club for the 1000th time combined; De Vizio as a prop in the Premier Reserves and Deacon as a prop in the Third Grade competition.
“It’s a pretty unusual event,” club president Wally Bell said.
In the club’s 73-year history, Bell said there have been around 30 players — known as “Club Legends” — to have played 200 games, but none have made it to the 500 mark. Until now.
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“We think 500 is unbelievable,” he said.
“It’s very unusual for props to have that length of career. It’s a tough position to say the least.”
Both De Vizio and Deacon attribute the strong culture of the club — particularly the camaraderie they feel with their team-mates — for their continuing presence on the field.
“Every year I sort of think about retiring, but then I get a call one or two weeks before the next season starts saying they’re short on props,” laughed Deacon.
“I turn up and hope the numbers get bigger by the end of the season, and so far they haven’t.
“I just have a passion for the club and a passion for the people at the club and a passion for rugby,” said De Vizio.
“It keeps me young, playing with the younger guys. It really keeps me young and fit and healthy.”
Adding another layer of improbability to the occasion is that neither De Vizio nor Deacon’s junior careers at Burnside are included in their tally, otherwise the club estimates each would be close to 650 total games.
“We don’t recognise those. It’s a bit sad,” Walsh said.
As a tribute to their longevity, De Vizio and Deacon will captain their respective teams against Brighton at Parkinson Oval on Saturday in the final round of the Rugby Union SA regular-season.
“I’m looking forward to running on to the field with my daughters, that’s going to be a big highlight for me,” De Vizio said proudly.
Burnside is also holding its annual Ladies Day to raise money for Women’s Safety Services SA, and its A-grade team has a chance to overtake Brighton for top spot on the ladder as the club seeks its first Coopers Premier division premiership since 1999.