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With code-hopping on the radar again thanks to Sonny Bill Williams returning to rugby league, who are the best code-jumpers we have seen? We choose our top ten throughout history.
Dally Messenger
Messenger was one of Australasia’s first professional footballers, playing two rugby union and seven rugby league Tests. He represented Australia and the New Zealand ‘All Golds’ and is attributed as a pioneer of rugby league.
Newspaper reports mention “kicks of 75 metres” for goal and his point scoring feats are truly remarkable to this day. The Dally M Medal is now awarded to Australian rugby league’s best player.
Brad Thorn
A modern day sporting marvel, 18 years of professional football has not limited Thorn’s amazing athleticism. Starting with rugby league, Thorn played 200 first grade matches, eight Tests for Kangaroos and 14 State of Origin appearances before deciding to move to rugby union in 2003.
Almost a decade later, Mosgiel-born Thorn played in 60 Tests as an All Black, including Rugby World Cups in 2003 and 2011, and had club success with the Crusaders and Leinster. He switched back to the NRL in 2005-2007 and managed representative level honours with Queensland too.
Mat Rogers
A strong rugby league family history didn’t stop Rogers doing well in both union and league. He played in two World Cups for Australia, winning a title with the Kangaroos in 2000 and finishing as a runner-up in the 2003 Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies.
Rogers played 45 Tests for the Wallabies over four years, then moved back to rugby league in the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans for another short period. The centre/fullback played professional footy for 16 years.
Jeff Wilson
‘Goldie’ was one of the most talented sportsmen to grace our sporting fields, representing New Zealand in cricket and rugby union. Selected to play four one-day internationals in 1992 against Australia, Wilson then focused on rugby union where he had an excellent All Black career playing in 60 Tests and holding the try-scoring record until he retired.
Most amazingly of all, Wilson returned to play cricket for the Black Caps in 2005 in more ODIs, 13 years after last appearing for them before persistent injuries forced him to retire.
Lote Tuqiri
Arguably Australia’s most successful dual international of modern times, Tuqiri rose to prominence in rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos and played nine Tests for the Kangaroos as a wing.
He switched to rugby union in 2002 and was a strong performer for the Wallabies over a six year period and played in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups, winning 67 caps and scoring 30 tries.
Remarkably, he returned to the NRL and played for the Kangaroos again in the 2010 Four Nations.
Jason Robinson
Robinson played almost 20 years of professional rugby league and union, providing acceleration and speed to his England teams. Starting with rugby league, he had a decorated career with Wigan, where he played 302 games, as well as 12 Tests for Great Britain and seven for England, before Robinson shifted to rugby union in 1999.
He was a mainstay in the English side throughout the 2000’s, playing in two World Cup finals and winning 51 caps along the way.
Henry Paul
Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott saw early potential in Paul – “a budding champion from his junior days” and this proved to be correct. A hooker, five-eighth or fullback, Henry played 23 Tests in a stellar Kiwi career throughout the 90’s, then switched to rugby union in 2002 and chose to represent England.
He played in six Test matches but made his real mark in England Sevens rugby, featuring in the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and was captain of England A. He was most recently Russia’s 2011 World Cup assistant coach.
Iestyn Harris
There really should be a museum dedicated to Harris in Wales, such is his dedication and involvement in the Wales rugby codes. He played firstly 18 Tests for Wales and 12 Great Britain rugby league Test matches, then 25 for the Wales rugby union team.
He now coaches the Welsh league team and will take them to the 2013 World Cup, almost 20 years since he first featured as a player.
Frano Botica
A prolific goal-kicking five-eighth, wing or fullback, Botica managed successful careers in rugby league and union. He was an All Black and Kiwi, playing 27 All Black Tests, seven for the Kiwis.
Botica also achieved great success with Wigan over seven years in Super League and was the fastest man to reach 1000 points for the club.
Sonny Bill Williams
A league sensation who played seven Tests for the Kiwis and won a premiership with the Canterbury Bulldogs, ‘SBW’ sensationally switched to rugby union in France, before featuring in the All Blacks’ World Cup winning team of 2011 and rising to become one of the form second five-eighths in world rugby.
Williams has since announced he will re-join rugby league in 2013 with the Sydney Roosters. More importantly, if he helps the Kiwis retain the World Cup next year, he will add another success to a colourful yet talented sporting career.
Any we have missed? Agree or disagree? Let’s hear your thoughts.
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.