2 days ago United Rugby Championship Heartbreak for Ospreys as last-gasp Lions try sees their URC season end on loss
There was last-gasp heartbreak for Ospreys as they ended their United Rugby Championship campaign with a 29-28 defeat to the Lions…
PA
17 May 2025, 14:48
Fast Rugby players are not True Sprinters in the track sense and never will be. They have to run scores of sprints in a match in between running to defensive positions, around rucks not to mention tackling. Just counting running there is a relatively significant aerobic element to what a rugby winger needs to do compared to an elite sprinter. Ergo a great International winger could never be a great International sprinter. They would lack the raw power and capacity. That guy isn't boasting, he was just politely answering a silly question with facts.
Certain Rugby wingers might make good 400m-800m runners though depending on how talented.
Doug Howlett was a 400 m runner.
I mean, he's correct, he would be quicker and the times the rugby players are putting up are not done in rugby boots with a ball in hand. He would be quicker, but he's a sprinter and his training consists of doing that every day. I do wonder what his times are like compared to the two American ex sprinters that played for the eagles.
If the ex-sprinters made it onto a rugby team it means that they did not have the raw speed to be national class sprinters. They would not beat the NZ record holder and probably would not have the anaerobic endurance to make a really elite rugby team.
Let's put into perspective 1st. Rugby players run differently to create balance to stay upright or keep their feet, if hit. Sprinters don't!
Do it, put it on Stan for Aussie viewers like me
Will Jordan, Crusaders fullback is very quick. You can throw his team mate Braydon Ennor in there too. I am looking forward to them both being back after missing last weeks Super. Will this Friday and Braydon Ennor in s few weeks time.
I thought Ennor was incredibly slow, or am I thinking of Goodhue?
Do it, in Rugby boots, on a Rugby field, over 60 metres.
I'm sure rugby can help him break the ten second barrier by getting Bakkies Botha to chase him around for a bit.
He was born in SA, probably would have the opposite effect.
Completely agree with Tiaan, not a single super rugby player would get within 5-10 over 100m, sprinting is different than rugby
If Doug Howlett could do it in 10.94 seconds, and Jonah Lomu in 10.7 seconds during the early pro era, then there's no reason someone couldn't come close today. The thing is no measures 100m sprint times for Rugby players, they're more focussed on metres per seconds and top speed, of which Reiko has hit 10.3, or 37 kmph. I'm willing to bet plenty of 7s players could give him a run for his money though.
Have Tiaan sprint with a rugby ball in his hands for 100m and then see if he can break 11 seconds-highly unlikely while carrying a ball which Tiaan does not take into consideration during his boasting.