DAVID Watkins, one of Britain's greatest ever players at both the rugby union and rugby league codes, is making a comeback after a break of twenty years and at the age of 64.

The former Newport union star and Salford league legend, the only player to have captained the British Lions at both codes, will turn out in a special game on Easter Monday, April 17.

It will be five minutes each way between former greats of the Salford and Leeds RL clubs and played during the Super League fixture between the sides.

It will help mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Reds' clubhouse at The Willows.

"My wife says I won't last five minutes," joked Watkins, who said she was probably right judging by his last appearance.

"That was for Newport in a Golden Oldies tournament at Worcester," he said.

"But after playing in the first game against Bristol Old Boys, who had players of about 25 and 30 in their ranks, I went in the bar and can honestly say I didn't sit down all the time I was in there because I couldn't." He added: "Salford are trying to get in a lot of former players from the 70s and said if I agreed to play it would act as a catalyst."

The game in April, said Watkins, "will be kick and pass. That's touch rugby and passing. That's all it will be I can assure you. There will be no sharp bursts up there."

Watkins left Newport for Salford in October 1967 for a then Salford club record £15,000 and became their record points scorer, taking them to the RL Championship in 1974 and Challenge Cup final in 1976.