A total of 18 Otago players from teams more than four decades apart mixed with 330 attendees of a Club Otago function celebrating the province's proud record over the British Lions' teams.
The function was for the Otago Medical Research Foundation.
Among the players attending was Don Clark, the powerhouse flanker from the 1966 Otago team that downed the Lions 17-9.
Clark, of Cromwell, has kept in regular contact with his teammates Maurie Collins, Ken Prain, Don Peddie, Paul Booth and John Levido, who also attended yesterday's function.
''We always go to Sassenachs dos and things like that and we keep in contact,'' he said.
One of Clark's enduring memories from the match was when he was heading to score a try but was ankle tapped by a Lions defender.
The flanker managed a quick offload to Collins, who was able to score.
The unity, loyalty and pride that went with playing for Otago was what brought his team together, something Clark thinks is lost on modern professional rugby players.
Earlier, a special tribute was made for Ron Elvidge, at 94 the oldest living All Black, who led a 23-9 victory for Otago over the Lions in 1950. Elvidge, a retired doctor, lives in Auckland.
The only member of that team at yesterday's event was Dave Johnstone, who watched his teammates as a non-playing reserve.
There were also discussions about the commanding victory by the 1960 Otago side, which downed the Lions 26-8.
Of that side, Sam Leary, Tup Diack, Vic Lloyd, Tom Jopson and Ian Stevens were at the function.
The function wrapped up with insights into Otago's 37-24 demolition of the Lions in 1993.
Josh Kronfeld took the stage and paid tribute to teammates including John Timu, John Leslie, Nick Moore, David Latta, Mike Mika, Aaron Pene and Stu Forster, who were in attendance.
-By Jonny Turner
