For many years in the late 80s and 90s across Calderdale they had rugby touch for both sexes at Heath Old Boys and Halifax RUFC involving works sides followed by tag rugby, still very active in the schools in Britain, and now it appears the Vets are playing a more recognised version of the 13-a-side game.

However, within the rules, the much older players can wear different coloured shorts and this prevents them being tackled full on in a game designed to be gentlemanly and sporting.

For many decades the rugby union clubs have hosted Veterans' sides and players have played well into their 60s in some cases and again it has been described as for the gentlemen of the game who want to keep on playing and enjoy the social side after their exertions out on the pitch.

The rugby league version, which emerged in Lancashire last season, has come over from Australia and they only record tries and no conversions take place and scrums, while taking place, are like the modern game, the side feeding in the ball can place it in their back-row!

The categories for the shorts are as follows: 35-40 white shorts and those players can bite the dust and chew the turf, the 40-50 age range wear black shorts and they can be tackled but once held submit and play the ball, the 50-55s wear red shorts and submit after being grabbed and the over 55s wear gold shorts and are gracefully brought to a halt with a two-handed "touch"!

Brighouse's organiser, Rangers' Juniors chairman Paul Sweeney told Echo Sport that his squad commenced training four weeks ago with a handful of players but the last two weeks they have been getting 20-25 players with more named players still to come and train in the next few weeks."

(Full story and more sports in the Brighouse Echo 10/7/2008)