It takes a constitution of iron and the determination of a marathon runner, but Italy's Mauro Bergamasco and Romania's Ovidiu Tonita are set to join a select rugby elite who have been to five World Cups.
Mauro Bergamasco Photo: AFP
Thirty-six-year-old flanker Bergamasco and Tonita, one year younger, will match Samoan great Brian ''The Chiropractor'' Lima on five tournaments.
They could even play against each other as Italy and Romania are both in Pool D against France, Ireland and Canada.
"Sixteen years ago I certainly wouldn't have thought it possible, it was just tough thinking about playing in my first World Cup," said Bergamasco who has won 104 caps for Italy.
"I have had to do a lot to reach this fifth one; I've worked hard and I have had the support of the other players and the staff.
"Now I am here, my objective is to play, to help the group and hopefully we can enjoy ourselves," said Bergamasco whose only disappointment is that little brother Mirco is not with him.
Mirco has missed out on his fourth World Cup having been dropped by coach Jacques Brunel in 2012.
Weights, stretching and press-ups have been the regime that has helped Romanian legend Tonita roll back the years and fight off younger rivals for his flanker post.
No airs and graces
Ovidiu Tonita Photo: AFP
"I am proud, it is a great honour," Tonita, Romania's most capped player with 65 Tests, said.
The 1.95m,107 kilogramme Tonita discovered rugby at the age of 17 in his hometown of Barlad.
Two years later he appeared at his first World Cup and during a warmup match was spotted by a French agent.
Then followed spells for the backrow forward with Grenoble, Biarritz, Perpignan, Carcassonne and now Aix-en-Provence in France.
Romania now has 8,000 players and an ailing championship far from its golden age of the 1990s when Romania beat France.
"There are promising young players in Romania, but I don't know how many will carry on because of the poor wages," said Tonita.
About 20 Romanians play in France.
"Toni" as he is known to teammates, said that his secret of longevity is "hard work, humility and a desire to be the best."
According to Romania's physical trainer Alexis Dejardin, "he works as hard as the young players and does not put on the airs of a star."
"Tonita is one of the team's main motivating forces," said Romania's Welsh coach Lynn Howells.
"Thanks to his experience he understands the importance of the World Cup and that inspires us. He has helped this team a lot."
Tonita believes Romania could win two matches in Pool D this time.
"I want to show people that we are a good team with talented players."
Ireland centre Gordon d'Arcy could also have joined the five club, but was left out of the final squad by coach Joe Schmidt.
Imposing centre Lima graced every World Cup from 1991 until 2007 with Samoa, earning the nickname "The Chiropractor" for his spine-realigning tackling style.
