LONDON (AFP) - Joe Roff, a World Cup winner with Australia eight years ago, is set to play his final game of rugby union when he captains Oxford University in their annual match against Cambridge University at Twickenham here on Thursday.

The 32-year-old is coming to the end of a two-year course in philosophy, politics and economics.

But before he finishes his studies he wants to lead the Dark Blues to victory after being on the losing side in his first Varsity match appearance last year when Cambridge, going for a hat-trick of victories on Thursday, won 15-6.

Roff scored 30 tries in 86 Tests for the Wallabies, mainly as a wing and full-back, before retiring from international rugby union three years ago having been a member of the Australia side that won the 1999 World Cup.

And he insisted that for all his experience at the highest level, the Varsity Match still had an important place in his affections and within rugby as a whole.

"Last year's Varsity was a very special highlight in my career despite the fact that we lost," Roff said. "It is going to be my last game, and I can't think of a better way to finish.

"My wife has told me to stop embarrassing myself and hang up my boots, and to be able to finish on the Twickenham stage is a good way to go out."

"There is something very special about the Varsity match. It is still one of the most important games in world rugby."

Oxford have won 10 of their 12 matches so far this season, beaten only by Northampton and the Ospreys.

However, 'Light Blues' Cambridge have won their last four matches.

Although they have no-one within their ranks of Roff's experience, they will be captained by former Bristol and Bath scrum-half Ross Blake. Ross Broadfoot, who has played for Leicester, will start at outside-half.

Many future internationals, such as Wales legend Gerald Davies, Scotland great Gavin Hastings (both Cambridge), South Africa's 'Tuppy' Owen-Smith and England's Stuart Barnes (both Oxford), have appeared in the fixture.

But it is rare for someone to have played so much international rugby as Roff before appearing in the Varsity match.

Cambridge lead the series 59-52 with 14 draws.