DIARMUID MCMAHON’S APPEARANCE alongside All Blacks captain Richie McCaw got us thinking about the greatest moments when sporting immortals descended to a less rarefied level to show their skills/gain fitness.

Here are some of our favourite cameo sporting appearances of sports stars in the lower echelons.

Claudio Caniggia signs up for FA Cup stint with Wembley FC

Terry ‘El Tel’ Venables with his superstar ringers in 2012. (Daniel Hambury/PA Wire)

Budweiser signed up the 1990 World Cup-winning striker to play alongside footballers from the Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League. Also signed up were David Seaman, Brian McBride, Ray Parlour, Martin Keown and Graeme Le Saux. Wembley FC did not win the FA Cup.

Sonny Bill Williams plays with Belfast

SBW waves goodbye to New Zealand rugby in 2012. (©INPHO/Photosport/Andrew Cornaga)

The former All Blacks star, who is now playing NRL in Australia, lined out for the Christchurch club in a Metro Division 1 match in 2010.

Keith Fahey plays for Bluebell

The Irish midfielder had a stint with the Dublin side in between spells with Aston Villa and St Pat’s. (©INPHO/Donall Farmer)

Michael Jordan tries his hand at Baseball

Weary of dominating the world of basketball with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan decided he would turn his hand to becoming a baseball star. The White Sox signed Jordan and asked him to prove himself with minor league team Birmingham Barons. He lasted a year. (SportsChrome/Press Association Images)

George Best tries to recapture the magic in South Africa… and Dunstable

Best moved on from Manchester United in 1974 as his powers, at the age of just 28, began to decline. He played five matches for Jewish Guild in South Africa before returning to England for a brief playing stint with Dunstable. (PA Archive)

Munster star Tipoki returns to club rugby roots in New Zealand

The former Auckland Blues and Crusaders star won acclaim in Ireland when playing for Munster and winning the Heineken Cup in 2008 (above). Aged 35, in 2011, he made a comeback for East Coast in his native New Zealand and, one year later, captained the side to a Division 1 cup. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

69 year-old Gordie Howe laces up the skates

The Hall of Fame star and four-time Stanley Cup champion made his third ice hockey comeback at the age of 69 when he appeared for the lowly Detroit Vipers in 1997. He played one shift for the IHL side. (AP Photo/Tom Pidgeon)

Matt Le Tissier appears for local side in Guernsey

44-year-old Le Tissier (right) made his debut for his local side against Colliers Wood United in April of this year. ‘Le Tiss’ came off the bench for the final 10 minutes of a 4-2 home loss. (File pic:

Richie McCaw gets shield-winning match practice

The All Blacks legend turned out for Christchurch FC in their Metro Division 1 match a week before he helped the Crusaders into this year’s Super Rugby semi finals.

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