FORMER Wallaby captain Nick Farr-Jones has classed Radike Samo's rare feat of donning the Wallaby jumper at the age of 36 years in the 2012 Rugby Championship as "inspirational".
Farr-Jones, who earned 63 caps for Australia before his retirement in 1993 at age 31, said Samo brought a lot of spirit into the game.
He said every nation needed to protect and develop their talents.
"Every nation has to protect its own people," Farr-Jones said.
"Every nation is trying to develop its own talents. I'm chairing the New South Wales Rugby and I'm close with the Australian Rugby Union.
"I know that while it seems unattainable at the moment we have the objectives of being the best rugby nation in the world. Of course the New Zealanders have it at the moment. Every nation has to do what it has to protect its players and encourage to them to stay in their system.
"It is great to see the athleticism of not a young player like Samo. He is inspiring and brings great spirit into the team. He just loves playing and good for him wearing the yellow jersey such late in his career."
Samo, a product of the Fiji under-19 team, signed up with the ACT Brumbies in 2000 and then represented the Wallabies on six occasions in 2004 before heading to France. He returned to join the Queensland Reds in 2010 and got a recall in the Wallaby squad in 2011. He became the oldest player to represent the nation in the 2011 Tri Nations aged 35.