This promises to be a momentous month for Wallaby legend Tim Horan. He's just returned to Brisbane from a flying trip to Asia to start a new career in banking and celebrate his 40th birthday.
It's amazing to think the blonde-headed tearaway, who was thrown in the deep end against the All Blacks just after his 19th birthday, is now officially entering middle age. He turns 40 on May 18.
'You look back on all the memories and winning a couple of World Cups was fantastic,' Horan said. 'But it's more about the people you've met and the countries you've travelled to while playing the game.'
Horan was named player of the tournament as Australia became the first nation to win two rugby World Cups with victory in the 1999 final over France at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Eight years earlier, he was part of Bob Dwyer's side who defeated England 12-6 in the 1991 final at Twickenham. With his career spanning both the amateur and professional eras, he is one of only five players to have twice claimed rugby's biggest prize.
Almost a decade ago, Horan walked away from international rugby at the age of just 30 before finishing his career with three seasons at Saracens in the English Premiership.
'My body was starting to shut down and tell me it was time and I always planned to retire a year early, rather than a year late,' Horan said. 'I wanted to finish on my terms and be proud of what I'd achieved and then make sure I could put something back into the game.'