Uruguayan rugby players who survived a plane crash in the Andes mountains by eating human flesh have played the fixture they missed, 30 years after the event.

The tragedy happened on 13 October 1972, when the Uruguayan Old Christians team were en route to Chile to play the Old Boys in the Copa Amistad tournament.

When all hope had been lost, 16 players were rescued after enduring 72 days in the ice and snow.

They later admitted they had kept themselves alive by eating the flesh of their team-mates who died.

The crash and harrowing struggle for survival were made internationally famous by the 1993 Hollywood movie Alive.

Robert Canessa: "The squad was motivated"

The focal point of a commemorative trip was a symbolic match between 14 of the Uruguayan survivors and members of the Chilean squad they had been scheduled to face 30 years ago.

In the event, the Old Christians beat the Old Boys 28-11 in the Chilean capital, Santiago.

But the emotional reunion between the players - now in their 40s and 50s - meant more than the score.

"Getting here shows us that, finally, we have twisted destiny's arm and overcome adversity," said back Robert Canessa.

The only concession to their age was the length of the match, only 50 minutes instead of the usual 80 minutes.