Gladiators devoured

Dorchester Gladiators - an over-40 veteran rugby team - got a little more than they bargained for when they travelled to Romania this week. A translation error meant that they ended up facing a team packed with internationals.

So you can imagine the shock when they walked out on Wednesday to find that the opposition was Romania's top club side, Steaua Bucharest, and that the game - in front of thousands of spectators - was to be screened on national television.

Of course the Dorset men had anticipated playing a veterans' team from the lower ranks of the Bucharest club. Instead they faced the superbly fit professionals led by the captain of the national side and including eight other internationals.

"We got a bit worried when our hosts asked us if we wanted to do a training session the night before," said second row Nigel Jones - age 43. "We did our pre-match build up in the bar and didn't get in until 4 a.m.. The match began at 11 a.m.. And they started warming up like real professionals and we just stood about smoking a few cigarettes knowing we were in real trouble."

The match ended 61-17 after the Romanians eased off when they realised they were in no danger of losing. "Everyone kept telling us we did brilliantly in the circumstances," said full back Dave Scaddon - aged 45.