Jake Polledri has done a lot in rugby. He was at Gloucester for six years and played in a European final, he’s been capped 20 times by Italy and he played in the 2019 World Cup.

All those achievements came in rugby union, of course, with the soon-to-be 30-year-old readily admitting that he’s never played a game of rugby league.

That makes Sunday’s 745 Game – a hybrid of rugby league and union laws – just that bit more of a challenge for Polledri, who these days is a player/coach at Cinderford.

When he spoke to The Local Answer he was reading up on the laws of the game, a game which will take place at Kingsholm (5.40pm) and one that is being staged to raise funds and awareness for motor neurone disease (MND).

Polledri played a lot of his rugby union career as a flanker but with the 745 Game 13-a-side, that’s not a position he’ll be playing on Sunday.

Fortunately, he can also play number 8 and he said: “I’m happy to play anywhere, I just want to play.

“When they asked me I just said, ‘Yes, 100 per cent’, this game is for such a good cause.”

Indeed it is. The first 745 Game took place at Headingley at the end of last year – the rugby league side won 33-21 – and the numbers 745 hold a special significance because they are the shirt numbers of MND sufferers and former players Rob Burrow, Ed Slater and Doddie Weir.

Burrow is a rugby league legend, Slater is an ex-Gloucester second row and captain, while Weir is a former Scotland second row who also went on a British Lions tour.

“It’s absolutely massive to be able to pull on a shirt and play for Ed, Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow,” said Polledri, who was forced to retire from top-level rugby at the age of 28 after failing to recover from a serious knee injury.

“They were warriors on the pitch, all three of them. The bigger picture is that by playing in this game, we’re all helping the fight against MND.”

The idea for the 745 Game originated from a WhatsApp conversation between Slater, who is 37, and Burrow.

Burrow sadly passed away at the age of 41 before the first game last year but Slater continued to work to make sure it became a reality. 

And there are some top-drawer names taking part on Sunday, including Mike Tindall and Jim Hamilton for the union side and Adrian Morley, Ben Westwood and Luke Gale for the league team.

There are many other internationals too.

“I’m really looking forward to playing with Joe Marler, it will be interesting to see what he’s like,” said Polledri, before adding with a laugh, “he was a real pain to play against!”

And he’s also looking forward to linking up with some of his old Gloucester team-mates.

“Billy Twelvetrees, Mark Atkinson, Joe Simpson, Matt Garvey, Matt Banahan; it will be awesome to share a changing room with those guys again,” said Polledri, who owns Just Pressed Cider.

“And it will be great to have the chance to run out and play at Kingsholm again, that will be special.”

Polledri, who lives in Gloucester, is hoping that as many people as possible will turn out and support the game.

Slater will be there and Polledri, who will be 30 on Saturday, has great memories of playing alongside him.

“He was unbelievable, a proper leader and a proper old-fashioned player,” he said.

“You didn’t want to mess with him but he was the type of player you always wanted on your team.

“He had the skills and was very knowledgeable, that’s why he was such a good player. In training sessions he always made sure we were on it.

“It will be great to catch up with him again.”

The 745 Game – the laws

13-a-side – six forwards, seven backs.

Each team can bring on a goal kicker only for kicks at goal. 

Unlimited tackles in your own half but six tackles once attacking team passes halfway.

Unlimited interchanges.

Uncontested scrums from knock-ons and forward passes. These are taken on the 20-metre mark in from touch, attacking team can select which side of the field scrum is placed.

Uncontested five-man line-outs when ball goes into touch.

One-on-one ball steals allowed in tackle before attacking ball carrier gets to ground, once knee to ground, tackle complete, play the ball to restart play.

Two markers at tackle, offside is five metres from the play the ball.

Two referees, one union, one league. One officiating the ruck, the other offside.

Five points for a try, two for a penalty, conversion and drop goal.

If the ball is knocked dead in goal, goal-line drop-out from the defending team, must go at least 10 metres.

Penalties kicked to touch, re-start with a line-out or take tap from where penalty is awarded, advantage for union but encourages league to attack from penalties.