Jason Rutledge set to topple 112-year provincial record

42-year-old front-rower Jason Rutledge is set to become the oldest player to play for Southland after being named in the side's bench to face Hawke's Bay in the Round 1 of the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup.

The son of former All Black Leicester Rutledge, Jason made his Southland Stags debut twenty years ago before being named in the Highlanders squad in 2004, amassing 59 appearances for the Super Rugby club before leaving in 2013.

“If you can get a name in a book it's pretty cool for my kids or my grandkids to look and see Dad's name there, or whatever. It is special,’’ said the 42-year-old who turns 43 in December.

“Dale (Southland's head coach) rang and said, ‘what’s the chances of you coming in on Tuesday?’ It was a pretty cool phone call. I didn’t really know where that would end up... but I tried to juggle work to get along and it’s worked out alright.’’

Rutledge notched up 138 games for the Southland Stags from 2000 through to 2016. When asked by Stuff.co.nz when he plans to hang up his boots, the legend said:

“There is a centennial coming up for Woodlands in a couple of years so it would be nice to still be playing then. I think it all revolves around your body.’’

Rutledge will topple utility back Isaac Jenkins who played the last of his 22 consecutive seasons for Southland as a 40-year-old in 1908.

Southland team to face Hawke's Bay