Cape Town - Former Wallaby centre Pat Howard is counting the days to the start of the 2010 Castle Cape Town Tens; an opportunity for him to catch up with old friends and share some beers with some new mates.
"These are the sort of rugby environments I love," Howard told capetowntens.com.
"I think we are all competitive by nature, but concepts such as this are fantastic. I have never played Tens, but I love Sevens and 15s, so I'm hoping, and thinking, that it's less physical than 15s and less fatiguing than Sevens - the perfect mix, you see!
"Of course, Cape Town is also such a great place," he added, "I haven't been there since 2003, so I'm looking forward to going back - especially with all the excitement of the 2010 World Cup and with us playing at the stadium."
Howard will join the likes of Timmy Horan, Damian Smith, Jeremy Paul, Leon Lloyd, Eric Miller and Zak Feaunati in the star-studded International Legends team at the 2010 Cape Town Tens.
He added: "This is probably what I am most excited about.
"Not only are those guys all great players, but they are also great rugby men. The opportunity to meet up with these guys is so rare and having a quiet ale and, of course, those late-night chats at the bar will be fantastic!"
Howard, 36, played 20 Tests for the Wallabies between 1993 and 1997 before moving abroad - where he played for Leicester Tigers and then for French club, Montferrand.
The flyhalf-cum-centre went on to coach at Leicester, guiding the team to the Guinness Premiership and EDF Energy Cup titles in 2007, before returning to Australia where he currently resides with his wife, Bess, and their four kids.
He is currently the Chief Operating officer of a Property Funds Management company called Cromwell, which coincidentally has strong SA ties and he keeps fit by playing some lower grade rugby with some mates.
His fitness, you see, should not be an issue come next weekend - that is if he stays out of the beer tent.
"Let's put it this way," he said, "I know how fit Horan and Damian Smith are, so I think I will be okay in comparison!
"Jokes aside though, I may not be perfect, but I'm not completely out of it... I shouldn't blow myself out too badly (out there)."
Click HERE to buy your Cape Town Tens tickets before it's too late!
"These are the sort of rugby environments I love," Howard told capetowntens.com.
"I think we are all competitive by nature, but concepts such as this are fantastic. I have never played Tens, but I love Sevens and 15s, so I'm hoping, and thinking, that it's less physical than 15s and less fatiguing than Sevens - the perfect mix, you see!
"Of course, Cape Town is also such a great place," he added, "I haven't been there since 2003, so I'm looking forward to going back - especially with all the excitement of the 2010 World Cup and with us playing at the stadium."
Howard will join the likes of Timmy Horan, Damian Smith, Jeremy Paul, Leon Lloyd, Eric Miller and Zak Feaunati in the star-studded International Legends team at the 2010 Cape Town Tens.
He added: "This is probably what I am most excited about.
"Not only are those guys all great players, but they are also great rugby men. The opportunity to meet up with these guys is so rare and having a quiet ale and, of course, those late-night chats at the bar will be fantastic!"
Howard, 36, played 20 Tests for the Wallabies between 1993 and 1997 before moving abroad - where he played for Leicester Tigers and then for French club, Montferrand.
The flyhalf-cum-centre went on to coach at Leicester, guiding the team to the Guinness Premiership and EDF Energy Cup titles in 2007, before returning to Australia where he currently resides with his wife, Bess, and their four kids.
He is currently the Chief Operating officer of a Property Funds Management company called Cromwell, which coincidentally has strong SA ties and he keeps fit by playing some lower grade rugby with some mates.
His fitness, you see, should not be an issue come next weekend - that is if he stays out of the beer tent.
"Let's put it this way," he said, "I know how fit Horan and Damian Smith are, so I think I will be okay in comparison!
"Jokes aside though, I may not be perfect, but I'm not completely out of it... I shouldn't blow myself out too badly (out there)."
Click HERE to buy your Cape Town Tens tickets before it's too late!