The 36-year-old' />

It might be 12 months since he last ran a ball up in anger but Ruben Wiki didn't look out of place at Mt Smart Stadium yesterday.

The 36-year-old Wiki came out of retirement to play for Toa Samoan Domestic, a side representing his mother's homeland.

Proceeds from the match went to the Samoan tsunami disaster relief effort.

Wiki retired from professional rugby league last year, having played 315 NRL games and a world record 55 tests for the Kiwis.

But even that vast experience couldn't save his side from a heavy 62-14 defeat against a New Zealand Bartercard Premiership Selection.

The Bartercard team comprised 16 players from the Canterbury and Auckland sides which last weekend contested the Bartercard Premiership final.