J9 Legends will have two icons of world rugby uppermost in their thoughts as they target International Vets glory today at the Dubai Rugby Sevens.

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The team put together by brilliant former Springbok scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen sauntered into the semi-finals of the Trophy competition Friday following four wins, with a scorecard that read 187 total points scored and none conceded.

Saturday’s clash will be a titanic tussle between a who’s who of international rugby past and present, with Joining Jack boasting current England internationals Owen Farrell and Richard Wigglesworth.

Sevens legend Waisale Serevi is J9’s player-coach and is aiming to lead them to victory after successive defeats in the previous two finals, a feat he says would be a perfect tribute to J9 Foundation creator Van der Westhuizen and his friend, New Zealand rugby great Jonah Lomu who died a few weeks ago.

“I told the boys the goal this weekend is to win this Vets competition. There’s a big reason behind it. It is for Joost and Jonah,” said Serevi.

“Joost wants us to win. I had a message from the officials that Joost is not feeling well and this might be his last Christmas. Maybe he has until January or February and that is really sad, but he is a fighter and I was telling the boys we are playing for him.

“I’m 47 and still running around and my friend Jonah Lomu passed away a few weeks ago. I’m so sad. He was a good rugby player and tough but off the field he was a real gentleman. A legend.

“To be here for J9 I thank them for asking me to be part of the team again this year and I want us to win. That is our goal. For Jonah and Joost, we want to dedicate to them.”

A minute’s silence was held on Pitch 1 yesterday to honour Lomu as well as World Rugby Sevens operations manager Beth Coalter, both of whom have died in the last two months.

Joining Jack’s path to the last four was similarly a stroll, they conceded their first points of the tournament in a 21-7 quarter-final victory against Cranston CSP Legends.