Rugby
Rugby vs the World Challenge: Rugby vs Boomerang
As part of the Webb Ellis Cup’s visit to Australia, DHL put on the second ‘Rugby vs. the World Challenge’ at Sydney’s beautiful Darling Harbor, pitting a Rugby legend against a Boomerang champion.
The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour is in Oz – the second stop on a one-year, 15-country ‘celebration of Rugby.’ After touring the breathtaking Blue Mountains outside Sydney on day 1, the most coveted prize in Rugby had some fun in the sun downtown at Darling Harbor, where Official Logistics Partner DHL hosted it’s second ‘Rugby vs. the World Challenge.’
After the Rugby vs. Sumo challenge in Japan saw Sumo outweigh Rugby and win, in Australia Rugby was the Goliath. The 2-meter-tall former Australian national rugby team captain, Nathan Sharpe, took on Australian Boomerang legend Laddie Timbery in a light-hearted duel that included three challenges: rugby kicking, boomerang throwing and “Giant Jenga.”
Giant what? Watch the video above and see what you’re missing.
“He’s a big fella.” (Australian Boomerang Champion, Laddie Timbery)
The Australian challenge
In the first challenge, the competitors had five attempts to kick a rugby ball into a giant DHL box floating in the harbor. Despite being a forward and admitting he couldn’t kick, Nathan managed 3 of 5 kicks to beat out Laddie’s son, who was substituted in for his elderly father.
Laddie, whose family has been making traditional original returning boomerang for hundreds of years, was forced to admit defeat in the boomerang challenge. He scored 1 of 5 to Nathan’s 2 of 5 throws. “I just got lucky a couple of times,” Nathan said afterward. “A bit of tutelage from Laddie – he looked after me and actually helped me get the win, so I thought maybe it could have been a draw. “
“I just got lucky a couple of times.” (Nathan Sharpe)
The final challenge – Giant Jenga – gave the master craftsman a chance to show his steady hand. Though neither had played Jenga before, Laddie beat out his giant opponent.
The victory left a final score of Rugby 2 – Boomerang 1. The overall challenge now stands at Rugby 3 – The World 3.
Rugby & Boomerang both winners
The two fast friends obviously had a great time representing their beloved sports and putting on a great show. And like in Japan, the real winners on the day were Rugby and Boomerang. This second stop on the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour allowed DHL once again to shine a spotlight on the great sport of Rugby in the lead up to Rugby World Cup 2015 in England and present a centuries-old Australian tradition to the world.
Next up: Fiji and Netball
The next stop on the Rugby World Cup World Tour is Fiji on June 24-26. There, Rugby will take on Netball, a highly popular sport in the South Pacific island nation.
The Trophy Tour runs until June 2015 and touches every Rugby playing continent. From Fiji, the Webb Ellis Cup will make its way to Madagascar, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, Hong Kong, China, United Arab Emirates, Canada, United States, Italy, Germany, Romania and France before returning to England for the beginning of the UK Trophy Tour.
Keep up with the Tour on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DHLRugby, Twitter at @DHL_Rugby and on the Sports Stream at DHL InMotion.
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