Rugby vs The World Challenge Gridiron Showdown: Rugby vs Football

Nobody argues that rugby is a tough sport. American football is also, by every account, no walk in the park. But which sport really is the grittiest? 

It’s a question we set out to answer with the latest Rugby vs. The World Challenge in the United States. The Webb Ellis Cup arrived in the United States in New York City and was whisked around the city in a DHL helicopter, swooping by the Statue of Liberty before landing among the bulls and bears on Wall Street.

The highlight of the trip, however, came a few days later in Chicago, where three ambassadors representing the sports of rugby and American football were waiting to square off in the latest Rugby vs. The World Challenge.

Representing football were Ahman Green (former Green Bay Packers running back), Sherrick McManis (current Chicago Bears cornerback), and Dan Hampton (Chicago Bears Super Bowl 1985 winner). The rugby ambassadors were Carlin Isles (American rugby sevens player, considered the fastest rugby player in the world), Zack Test (represents the US on the national rugby sevens team) and Christian Cullen (former captain of the New Zealand All Blacks).

One thing’s for sure – these guys are competitive!

As soon as these six guys took the field, the good-natured smack talk was on.

“I knew Ahman Green growing up,” said Zack Test of the Packers football legend. “He was the running back for the Green Bay Packers. But he’s a bit of an old man now, so we’ll see how he fares against Carlin.”

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The ‘old men’ admitted to having lost a step compared to the young guns (“I’ve got 17 knee operations and an artificial joint – I’m not going to run!” said Hampton) but that didn’t mean they’d lost any of the competitive edge.

“Win, win, win – it’s a mindset,” added Hampton. “It’s the way we roll here in America.”

The die had been cast, and the competitors threw themselves into the challenges.

Beating them at their own game

First up was a speed test that saw one man from each side (Ahman Green from football, and Carlin Isles from rugby) field a punt of the ball opposite to their sport. Then, they had to run an obstacle course to the 50-yard line of the football field. Despite Isles's mean wheels on the rugby pitch, Green dug deep to his days as a star running back and won the challenge for football.

The next test was the catching grid. Football’s Sherrick McManis lined up against rugby player Zack Test and went through one of the drills often used at the NFL combine. Each man ran through a grid from the end zone to the 50 yard line catching rugby balls & American footballs from left to right as they made their way up the field. Even though the page was taken straight out of the NFL playbook, rugby took this challenge – meaning the score was tied at 1-1 heading into the final round: the fourth-down team relay.

Final showdown

This test saw all three ambassadors face off against each other in a total of four challenges spaced ten yards apart. The first down saw the players pumping up a ball opposite to the one they were used to. Then, the ball was relayed to the next ambassador at the 20-yard-line. 

His challenge was an homage to some of the best scoring celebrations of all time: wrapping his wrist with tape, writing a message to mom on the tape, flashing it to the camera, and then running on to the 30 yard line.

The third ambassador in the relay ran through a speed ladder before handing the ball off to the man who started the relay, who had to throw a ball from the 40 yard line into a passing target before all three team members sprinted across the 50 yard line to end the relay.

Even with home field advantage and the comfort of a football field to play on, the American football players had to concede defeat to the rugby players. 

It was a spot-on pass from Christian Cullen that made the difference, proving that rugby players are more than tough enough for the American gridiron!

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour continues all the way up until next summer’s tournament in England, and we’ll feature a Rugby vs. The World Challenge at every stop! Stay tuned at the end of November for the next edition from the United Arab Emirates – we’ll have the latest for you here on DHL InMotion!