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Even though the game is thought to be getting slower, what with all the scrum resets and other instances of referee interference, one area that seems to be picking up is individual pace in the forwards. Even props and locks can sprint today.
This also applies in the backs, especially the outside centres and the wingers.
Stephen Jones doesn’t get much argument when he gives the nod to Takudswa Ngwenya as currently the fastest guy in rugby shoes. He also puts Tonderai Chavhanga, Thom Evans, Benjamin Fall and Rod Davies in the extremely swift department, and includes Tom Varndell who may still be the fastest man in English rugby even though he didn’t make it as an international.
Who’s the fastest guy in New Zealand rugby? Let’s have some input from the Kiwis on that.
Looking back at players of the past, Nigel Walker says the fastest guys he ever played against were Jeff Wilson and Chris Cullen – no big surprise there.
While Jeremy Guscott picks Martin Offiah and David Trick, the Bath and England winger.
But as fast as all these people were, and some of them had a track background, I was under the impression that no international rugby player had ever won gold at the Olympics.
I was wrong.
At the 1920 Games in Antwerp, American Morris Kirksey won gold in the 4 X 100 relay, then two weeks later, his scorching pace helped the US blank France for the Olympic rugby gold medal.
There were 154 events in 22 sports at the Antwerp Games, and in swimming, for those who are keeping a scrapbook, Australia won a silver in the 4 X 200, and Frank Beaurepaire won a bronze in the 1,500.
His sister, Lily, was a terrific athlete competing in the 100, 400 as well as the highboard diving.
But hats off to Morris Kirksey, the Stanford Flash, who, graduating with a degree in philosophy and medical science, became known as the world’s fastest doctor/philosopher.
Morris died 29 years ago age 86.
Stephen Jones makes no mention of a flyer who’s commonly accorded the title of fastest ever in recent league history in Autralia: Reg Gasnier.
Before Reg is the blur from Chinchilla, Queensland, Johnny Bliss.
Johnny played for Balmain, North Sydney and Manly between ’42 and ’51. In ’47, on the 100-yard grass track at the SCG, wearing full football gear including the old hi-top boots, Johnny was hand-timed in 9.9 seconds.
And he carried a football under his arm all the way.
So while it’s true that rugby players are getting faster, it turns out that there were always fast rugby players.
Just not as many as there are today.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.