tony cheng, al jazea, beijing. >>> we also hear i this country how peop are living longer and working longer as the population ages. though, so far as popular cult sure concerned, sports, ple are uually the news, older exception, rather than e rule. bu in japan, a we're gog to show glouonight's "worldfocus" spotlight story, they look at all of this qui fferently. from t sport of rugby with its quirky surroundy moves and plays,o many other roles that old people se to be playing quite well, thanyou. our sry's from ma willis reportin for the "lateline" program ofustralia's abc. >> reporter: it's said rugby is theame they play ineaven, but even with an average age of 68these football fanatics aren't keen onrilling a golf ball through the pearly gates just yet. prowling out on the wing today on this over 's championship match a game -- toldest man on the paddock at4. >> translar: i love rug. i recognize i'still very hlthy and i canplay just a well my teammatescan. >> reporte his sidestep may are more like a slow shuffle but he still relhes charging into the pack and althoh he complains tha

western-style offensive as you are about to see in this report from tony cheng of al jazeera english. >> reporter: a rare chance to see the world's largest military force at work. china's people's liberation army, the pla, with this special training demonstration for foreign journalists and although it didn't look like it, this was part of a charm offensive. the chinesearily's trying to open up, making itself more transparent at home and abroad. but these recruits, in no doubt, is their duty to their country that comes first. >> translator: the soldier's duty seto win all battles. if one day our mother land is attacked. once we receive order, i fight to the death. >> translator: we cannot let chin ab, divide. that happens we will take orders from the party do what needs to be done. >> reporter: still for the senior commanders and their advisers the days of the cold war freeze are long gone. china may have relied on manpower in the past, but today's modern army needs to win hearts and minds from august the 1st, the people's liberation army is going online. >> translator: this is the er