English rugby legend Ben Gollings breaking out of retirement to play with his sons Woody and Rocco

England’s greatest ever Rugby Sevens player will break his rugby retirement to play alongside his two sons for the first time in the Surfers Paradise Dolphins’ second grade team.

England’s greatest ever Rugby Sevens player will break his rugby retirement to play alongside his two sons for the first time in the Surfers Paradise Dolphins second grade team.

Ben Gollings played 344 times for England in the sevens arena, amassing 2652 points as the sport’s all-time leading pointscorer.

The 40-year-old Englishman retired from international rugby in 2011 and played his last club match for Surfers in the 2018 grand final defeat to Colleges.

Until now.

On Saturday Gollings will stride onto the field arm-in-arm with his sons, for the first time since they accompanied him onto the pitch at Twickenham 10 years ago.

“That was a cool landmark but this will be a bit more of a landmark because we’ll be running out to play together,” Gollings said.

“The last time I played properly was the Grand Final a couple of years ago with Surfers, then I tore my bicep off the bone at a friendly invitational in Dubai before Christmas last year.

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“I’ve kept myself pretty fit but there’s a big difference between being fit and being rugby-fit.

“I’ll be sore afterwards but I think it will all be worth it for the chance to play with the boys.”

Woody, the team’s 17-year-old flyhalf, will form a playmaking axis with his old man at fullback.

Rocco Gollings, 15, Ben Gollings, 40, and Woody Gollings, 17, will play alongside each other for the first time on Saturday. Picture: Nic Darveniza

Rocco, 15, is his younger brother and a chance to grab a wing position off the bench to complete a special moment for the family.

“He’s been asking me if he could pull on the boots and play with me before he got too old,” Woody said.

“It’s exciting. I’ve never played with him before but I want a turn playing against him one day as well.

“He was also the competitive ‘you’ll never beat me’ type of dad.”

While Gollings’ loyalty to England is unshaken both his sons were raised in Australia and dream of pulling on Wallaby gold.

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EARLIER

Friday night was one for the record books at Surfers Paradise rugby club as four sets of fathers and sons took the field together.

Shane Bulford, Kevin Wooster, Steve Edwards and Tane Hua all ticked a lifelong dream off their bucket lists against Bond Pirates in the final game of their third grade season by playing with their sons Jordan, Dylan, Logan and Neitna.

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Kevin Wooster retired from ‘golden oldies’ rugby six years ago but the chance to play alongside his son Dylan for the first time was enough to lure him back.

“It was memorable to play with Dylan but I wish I’d done it years ago when I was more active,” Wooster said.

Surfers Paradise fielded four sets of fathers and sons in third grade over the weekend. (L-R: Shane Bulford, Jordan Bulford, Kevin Wooster, Dylan Wooster, Steve Edwards, Logan Edwards, Neitna Hua, Tane Hua). Picture: Supplied

“The opportunity came up and even though I’m a worn-out old bugger I said I’d come on with you.”

Dylan Wooster, a first grade regular who has previously captained the team, said he was glad a year of begging his old man to come out of retirement had paid off.

“It was sort of surreal because I’d never played with him my whole life,” he said.

“We worked together for a number of years, opened a grocery store together, we’ve done so many things together but that was the bucket list thing I wanted to tick.

“I’d love to do it again but those days are past him now.

“I’m more likely to meet him at the pub than I am to meet him training, but it meant the world to me to do that with him as a last hurrah.”

Surfers fell 61-12 to Bond Pirates in the clash to end their season winless.

Helensvale and Colleges sit tied at the top of the third grade ladder with 33 points.

Nerang Bulls are nipping at their heels while Pirates are also a certainty to qualify for the finals.