And while the hits weren't as brutal and the speed definitely not as quick, the blood was real and so were the aching muscles after a 40-minute Legends match.

Brumbies fans got a treat when they were taken down memory lane in a Wests Legends clash with the ACT Legends, with some of the club's greatest players on the field as part of 50th year celebrations.

Everyone arrived keen to see whether Larkham still had his silky skills after Super Rugby coach Jake White tried to lure him out of retirement last month.

But it was Rathbone who was the ''party pooper'' at his ''electric'' best to score three tries.

''I don't think anyone told Rath that you're supposed to slow down a bit when you play in these sorts of matches - he's genuinely still electric,'' Larkham said.

White asked Larkham to come out of retirement with the Brumbies' two first-choice playmakers suffering season-ending injuries.

He declined, but yesterday's match lit a competitive fire deep inside the World Cup-winning flyhalf.

He's not ready to hang his boots up and is keen to test himself in a more physical contest to see if he can still match it with some younger opponents.

''That was very enjoyable … I've enjoyed the whole atmosphere, the camaraderie and it felt good,'' he said.

''I think a more serious game would be something I would want to do now … I'd have to start low in the grades, though.

''I just got an adrenaline buzz … I got to play with some of the guys I looked up to as a Wests ballboy like Andrew Stanford and Peter Bennett and that was fantastic.''

Players with more than 300 Test and Super Rugby caps ran onto the field for a blockbuster battle of former teammates and Wallabies and Brumbies greats.

It was supposed to be a bit of fun but it took just one tackle for blood to start flowing from Rathbone's nose. It must have fired the Test winger up because moments later he was powering through some veteran tacklers on his way to his first try.

He scored the match-winner just before full-time and his tally could have been four had he not stepped out on another blistering break down the sideline.

But while White tried to lure him out of retirement at the start of the year, Rathbone said he's happy to stick with the exhibition games.

''I feel a bit embarrassed by it actually, I didn't know whether to run or not,'' Rathbone laughed.

''It felt good, I haven't played since 2009 … having to cover for Roffy's missed tackles reminded me of the old days.

''I didn't get a chance to bash Bernie [Larkham], but maybe next time.''

Roff was playing his first game since 2008 and wore his Brumbies shorts from the 1996 season.

He swooped on one of Larkham's loose passes early in the match, but was run down by his former teammate in a race to the line.

The day wasn't just about the Brumbies' greats.

Some Wests stalwarts dusted off their boots to help celebrate the club's 50th birthday.

Geoff Larkham powered through the match and kept beating his son to the ball.

For 65-year-old Wests legend Ron Moloney, it was his 438th match for his beloved club.

''The last time I played was 20 years ago, I was a bit worried going out there but it was a slow pace which was good,'' Moloney said.

''Just playing with the guys I used to play with made my day.

''I was fast enough … but I think that's it for me.''