Great Britain over 50s finish joint fifth at Touch Rugby World Cup

With everything considered, Ince, 50, from Birchwood, said it was a 'solid' effort from his side that finished joint fifth in their age group after six 40-minute games of six-a-side touch rugby in four days in Kuala Lumpur.

"They were super tough conditions out in Malaysia as temperatures were ridiculously high with high humidity, too," said Ince, a former Lymm, Ilkley, Bristol Harlequins and Preston Grasshoppers rugby union centre.

"Thankfully play was suspended when the thermometer hit 51.9 degrees C."

Ince, a fire safety specialist who plays touch rugby for Lymm, added: "There's lots of great memories and it was a solid performance from a scratch team against teams with much more international experience.

"Out of the squad of 16, we had seven new caps."

Ince, who said it was a dream come true to play in a world cup for his country and felt honoured to be chosen as captain by the squad, put the national team together at fairly short notice for an event which featured 119 teams from 26 countries.

As anticipated, heavy defeats were experienced against the super-fit and experienced Australia and New Zealand sides and they fell 4-1 to last year's European champions Ireland.

"We drew 3-3 with Singapore, the eventual bronze medal winners, and we then beat Japan 5-2 to finish joint fourth in the pool stage.

"On count-back we had to play Japan for fifth spot, and what was a great game in searing temperatures finished 6-6."

Ince also represented his country - on this occasion England - at over 45s level in the European Championships three years ago.

He came home from Jersey with a gold medal.