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.
bob higgerson
Guest
david ivine is fastest player i have seen. Former pro sprinter.
Georgina
Guest
David Irvine (not to be confused with ken) and mike cleary were no doubt the fastest rugby league players .there performances standout.Cleary bronze medal at commonweath games 100...and David Irvine undisputed Aust Champion pro sprinter for 6 years and 2nd just pipped by American national sprint champ in 1975 Stawell Gift.....none of the past or current league players could ever achieve that..!!
grant
Guest
Well Cleary was quick for a big winger, But times and facts proof Dave Irvine was the quicker.
grant
Guest
Well Cleary was quick for a big winger, But times and facts proof Dave Irvine was the quicker.
JWH
Guest
Dave Irvine wasn't even shaving when Cleary and cousin Ken were at their fastest. Cleary was the fastest of the three when all three were at their prime.
grant
Guest
good to see someone knows the facts, He was the fastest league player in history.
grant
Guest
Well good to know someone knows their facts Dave Irvine was the fastest footballer ever to play the game.
Adam
Guest
I currently work with Dave Irvine, little did i realize how fast he used to be. He holds the Australian 200m record on Grass (which he ran in footy boots and on a shoddy grass track) was 20.5 His 100m time on grass in boots was 10.2 (might also be an Australian record), He mentioned today how he beat 1968 silver medalist ( and Aus. track 200m record holder) Peter Norman in a grass race..and beat him by a good margin. Wish i could have watched him run!
Phil
Guest
Dave Irvine stands out as the fastest rugby player I have seen. I can't believe that anyone who saw him play does not share the same view. His speed was breathtaking!
barry poulter
Guest
david irvine beat bob hayes at the 200 m 220 yds ? at the st kilda gift meeting in the 1960,s hayes won shorter sprints meeting was cancelled by rain during meet and was continued following week daves training partner gabe very was fav for gift , did not back up his form second week daves other training partner arch brown other winger parramatta rugby league he was only a small distance from dave in sprints dave was undefeated in sprints at championship level against aussie including bill howard
Happy Hooker
Guest
John Grant, Eastwood winger, now with Wests Tigers. Champion Schoolboy athlete.
Happy Hooker
Guest
Maybe Jones, or Evans, or Williams?
Wix
Guest
Wix
Guest
Surely Joe Lavula (or Lavulo, spelling??) of Fiji in 1960's (or earlier). As I recall he was a medalist sprinter at Commonweaalth Games. He was not only fast, but he was big, like most Fijian rugby players. As with Jonah Lomu decades later, Lavula did not run around his tacklers, he ran thru them. Ask Wallaby centre Jim Phipps who at SCG game against Fiji was corageous enough (or foolhardy enough) to attempt to tacklle Lavula in full flight
D Will
Guest
A bit late but people still might find their way to this page. The 2 fastest sprinters in australia at the moment played lower level league back in the days. Not sure how fast they were back then but their fastest ever times are bout around 10 flat.
Wix
Guest
A signifcant speedster from way back was Welsh winger TGR (Gerald) Davies, dring the 60's and 70's. I do not know what his 100 yards time was but I do recall his unbelievable accelaration from a standing start, past any number of dumbfounded defenders into the clear. He used this accelaration many times to score tries down the sideline with seeminlgly no space at all inside the touchline. The best example of this was in 1971 Five Nations match against Scotland when he took off like a rocket, past defenders who appeared close enough to be able to tackle him but didn't, to score in the corner. This try is sometimes shown on TV in historical footage. He was capped 46 times
ricardo
Guest
all those times are rubbish..the fastest man in south africa is Simon Magakwe who ran the 100 mters in 10.21 seconds..note also the third place getter only stopped the time clockat 10.32 c..and these are genuine sprinters..chavanga and habana i reckon are at best 10.6s..
ricardo
Guest
pesamino blew saunders away at adelaide..
Colin N
Guest
That's interesting, he did a 40-metre run on Total Rugby a couple of weeks ago to find 'the fastest rugby player in the world' and he didn't do that well.
Jerry
Guest