PHIL Vickery has a message for young rugby players brought up in the professional era – you’ve got to love the game more than the rewards.

Vickery turned 34 last month and, like team-mate Simon Shaw, is old school.

He said: “If you play the game for money, just searching for a pot of gold, then you’re going to be in serious trouble.

“No amount of money will make you do what you do.

“Yes, we get paid well, fine, but if you don’t love what you do, my God, there is a serious amount of pain out there.”

Vickery has just returned from the fourth major operation of his career which required surgeons to go through the front of his neck to repair his discs.

It could have ended his career, and after such a close shave he has returned with a broad perspective.

He said: “We can all moan about games, moan about training, moan about food, moan about the travelling, moan about relegation, moan about the ref, moan about tours, moan about pre-season, moan about time off.

“But you get on with it or do something else. That is the reality of it. The machine keeps going. You either drive it or get off and let someone else do it.

“A lot of people out there would love the opportunity to do what we’re doing.

“Sometimes, when you’re in something, it’s not until you step back that you think, ‘what a fantastic job and life I have’.

The prop has another year left on his Wasps contract. That will take him through the World Cup.

He said: “I’m 70 minutes back from major surgery and I’m honestly not looking that far ahead.

“I’ve got to get through the end of this season first, and then another pre-season. That would be an achievement in itself.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have the hunger, and where there’s a will there’s a way, but you can’t be silly about it.

“You can’t be so blinkered about it that you relentlessly pursue something that ultimately you can’t do.

“Everything gets harder as you get older. Mentally it gets tougher. Guys are getting bigger and stronger.”