David Lange was Prime Minister of New Zealand when Michael Hori Te Pa first started playing senior rugby in Horowhenua.
U2 had a number one hit with One Tree Hill. The year was 1988, and just months earlier the All Blacks had won the very first Rugby World Cup.
Fastforward to 2021. When a scrum sets tomorrow afternoon, the 55-year-old front-rower will link arms with props that are half his age, against players that weren't even born when he made his club rugby debut.
"I enjoy it. That's why I keep playing ... it keeps me young," he said.
Hori Te Pa had played alongside nephews. He had now played with or against generations of the same family - fathers and sons.
Michael Hori Te Pa before a pool training session this week.
"It's not all about the rugby. It's the friendships and the enjoyment that you build up over the years, especially after the game when you catch up with people you haven't seen for years," he said.
"But I never thought I'd last this long. I don't know when I'll stop though. Maybe when my legs fall off, or when I stop enjoying it."
He was blessed with good genes. In his younger days, it was not uncommon for Hori Te Pa to play 160 minutes of rugby. He would play for the senior Bs in the curtain-raiser, then keep his boots on and play the senior A game.
A shoulder injury four years ago meant he struggled with push-ups, while the worst injury he had was an achilles heel injury that saw him spend half a season on the sideline.
Otherwise, he had played rugby every season since he was a child.
Hori Te Pa was originally an openside flanker, but later found home in the front row. But he would play wing or fullback if it meant being on the park.
"Anything except 16 to 22. I'm not much of a reserve," he said.
Having played through more than one era of Horowhenua-Kāpiti club rugby, he was in a unique position to comment on the competition and the players.
So, who was the best player he had played with or against? He replied without hesitation.
"Carlos Spencer. He was just a natural. He could score five tries in a game. It was just that ability, and an awareness and an instinct that came naturally," he said.
Carlos Spencer.
"Colin Sciascia was another, just with an instinct for the game. As a halfback, he knew when to run the blindside without having to look or be told."
Hori Te Pa had the distinction of playing for multiple clubs. Wanderers was his family's club, but he made the move to Athletic four years ago when Wanderers didn't have a team, and was now a valued member there.
He had also played a season apiece for the Toa and Foxton clubs in the past.
"Athletic know I'm a Wanderers man and said if you want to go back you can. At the end of the day all you want to do is play rugby," he said.
Michael Hori Te Pa was captain of Wanderers in 2017 as a 50-year-old.
Hori Te Pa was in the thick of it when Athletic played Wanderers recently. In a tight match, he scored a crucial try with three minutes to go.
"The old man said to me 'you could have at least dropped it'," he said.
Work commitments as a prison officer meant he was only available every second weekend this season, but he still went to training each week on a Tuesday and Thursday.
He was always keen to help young players, especially props. He had coached both the Horowhenua and Waiopehu College teams, and was always available for coaching and advice.
"When you love the sport you just help out," he said.
During the summer months Hori Te Pa's passion was to follow speedway, even though he had never driven a stock car.
