'You felt that this was just retribution in a sporting sense'

Today he plays the game for enjoyment but Josh Lewsey has fond memories of facing Ireland, including that 2007 Croke Park clash

It is not all that easy to associate Josh Lewsey with the idea of ‘retirement’. The very name calls to mind a blur of blond hair; the protean modern play-anywhere fullback in possession of a game of wit, strength and combustible energy. He came to prominence at precisely the right time in England’s unpredictable history in international rugby, claiming a World Cup medal a decade ago, 55 caps for his country and three Lions caps in 2005. There is little doubt that at 36 could still be playing rugby at the highest level. Just two seasons ago, he answered an SOS from Shaun Edwards to act as a reserve for Wasps when his old club was hit with injury in the closing passage of their season.

“It wasn’t a comeback,” Lewsey sighs with mock weariness.

“I had played a charity game in Donnybrook and Shaun [Edwards] rang me up and asked me to sit on the bench for four games. True enough, the moves hadn’t changed anyhow. It was proper old school style where you work during the week, turn up and crack on. I told the press that I was just helping the club out for a few weeks and that it definitely wasn’t a comeback. And so they reported that I was making a comeback.”

Far from it: instead, Lewsey began the next phase of his life, working in finance and devoting his spare time to mountaineering (He had a perilous descent from Everest in 2010 after his breathing equipment failed, forcing him to abandon a summit attempt with 150 metres left to climb). His rugby life is limited to trying to rediscover the reasons that he first started playing the game – for enjoyment. So he didn’t have to be asked twice to play in England v Ireland game in Donnybrook on the eve of this year’s Six Nations fixture.

He will share a dressing room with former England lionhearts like Jason Leonard and Martin Corry while the teams will span several eras – Nick Popplewell and Trevor Brennan are among the Irish names.

Meeting up will be a rare treat: Lewsey confesses that with retirement comes an instant distance; former players do their own thing.

“I liken it to the silverback gorillas in the jungle. Everyone disappears to be by themselves once your time is done. When you have played the game professionally, right, it is all about achievement and performance and it is destination-based. You get very little time to enjoy the experience- it is all furrowed brows and very earnest. Then when you finish, you look back at this amazing time you had. So guys don’t see as much of each other as they would like to, it is a rare treat to come back and have a laugh and reminisce. I am in touch with some of the guys but work and family and kids all keep people busy.”

Lewsey has several vivid memories of playing rugby in Dublin but the famous 37-32 encounter between Wasps and Munster, a European semi-final played a Lansdowne Road that by then had earned every bit of its status as the world’s oldest rugby ground, stands alone as the best rugby game he ever played in. He also appreciated the significance of stepping out onto Croke Park for the historically slanted Six Nations match between Ireland and England.