7. Drew Mitchell – Rugby United New York
The flying back-three talent achieved 71 Test caps for the Wallabies, throughout a club career that spanned the Reds, Waratahs and Western Force in Super Rugby. In 2013, Mitchell decided that it was time for a change, and said ‘hello’ (or bonjour) to Toulon. Mitchell was apart of the all-star squad that won a trio of consecutive European Cups, in a back-line alongside the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Bryan Habana and Ma’a Nonu.
However, as Mitchell approached the tail end of his career, he could no longer solider on through his injuries, which began to mount up after each week. Mitchell ended his playing days at the end of the 2016/17 Top 14 season, and was away from the pitch for three years before getting the call to head ‘stateside’. Mitchell was approached by Rugby United New York in 2020, and spent the following season in the ‘Big Apple’, for a brief run in the MLR.
8. Victor Matfield – South Africa, Bulls and Northampton Saints
South Africa fans thought they had seen the end of Victor Matfield’s career, when the Springboks were eliminated from the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The legendary lock applauded the sea of gold and green, before calling it a day following an exhibition run out with the Barbarians. However, the towering second row was unable to stay on the side-lines, and decided to keep the dream alive with a return ahead of the 2014 Super Rugby season.
Matfield took up a spot upon the Bulls roster, and showcased that he still had plenty left to give against the South African, Australian and New Zealand club sides. However, the opportunity came knocking for a Springboks return after continued top performances, with the lock adding an unforeseen 17 caps to his tally. Matfield would couple this last ride with a run with Northampton Saints, before he retired in 2016 as the all-time most capped Springbok with 127 Test caps, a record that is soon to be surpassed by Eben Etzebeth.
9. Andy Goode – Newcastle Falcons
The second highest points scorer in the history of the Premiership, Andy Goode’s strike rate spoke for itself from the kicking tee. Goode’s sharpshooting brought an abundance of success in the form of five Premiership titles, as he enjoyed stints at Leicester Tigers, Saracens and Sale Sharks, as well as turning out for Wasps, Worcester Warriors and Newcastle Falcons. It was his return to rugby that took place in the North East, with Newcastle bringing the 10 out of a short-lived retirement.
Goode decided to call time upon his playing days at the end of the 2014/15 season, with the plan of ending his playing days as a Wasp. However, Goode would not in fact fade away from the pitch, with the Falcons offering him a final season to enjoy the fame and keep the club in the Premiership. Goode succeeded at the mission objective, with his metronomic place kicking critical in Newcastle’s survival in the 2016/15 season. London Irish were the club to go down, whilst Goode moved into a broadcast and journalism role post playing.
10. Shane Williams – Amman United
The certified Wales legend finished his playing career in 2015, after enjoying a three year run out in Japan with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars. Regarded amongst the finest wings that have ever donned the red jersey of Wales or in fact the British & Irish Lions, Williams ended his Test match career after the 2011 Rugby World Cup as his nation’s top try scorer, with no better man able to surpass the strike rate of the ‘Welsh wizard’.
Williams would not make a full-time return to the pitch, but did dust off the boots for some sporadic appearances for his beloved local club Amman United. You could only imagine what was going through the opposition’s minds as Williams ran out in the Welsh National League 3 West B division, and the wing even managed a return to the Principality Stadium with Amman in a provincial cup final.