It's not often that modern professional rugby players yearn for yesteryear, what with the advent of financial reward, more finely detailed and attuned preparation and other ancillary benefits, but some might cast an envious glance at the days of Ireland's greatest out-half Jack Kyle.

The Belfast born former Ireland and Lions outhalf has spent most of the last 30 years as a surgeon in Zambia but recently recalled his experiences - in an interview in Rugby News - on returning from the 1950 Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia. Between travelling and playing the players were away for six months but on his return in October Kyle had a pleasant surprise.

"Because the tour started in April straight after our international season, when I came back in October the domestic season was already up and running: people were saying to me that I musn't play, pointing out that if I did I would be exhausted by the time that internationals came round. I watched matches for three months, October, November and most of December, when the Irish trials were coming up.

"I got back in training just after Christmas and this was the idea, otherwise I would go stale."