Rugby
Rugby vs. The World: Rugby takes on soccer at DHL HQ
With DHL partner FC Bayern Munich having just secured their 25th Bundesliga title, what better challenger to take on the captain of Germany’s national rugby team than a former Bayern soccer player in the Rugby vs. The World Challenge?
The latest round of the DHL Rugby vs. The World Challenge was a bit of a home match for us: this challenge took place in the shadow of the Post Tower, the global headquarters of Deutsche Post DHL in Bonn, Germany. That meant plenty of employees taking advantage of the nice weather to come outside, check out the Webb Ellis Cup, and see who would win the Rugby vs. The World Challenge.
The challenger was Hasan Salihamidzic, a former FC Bayern Munich player who won the Champions League with the team – a current DHL partner and Champions League contender - back in 2001. On the rugby side, it was Sean Armstrong, captain of the German national rugby team, seeking to defend his sport’s honor.
Before the first challenge, soccer penalties, Hasan noted during warm ups that Sean was quite skilled with a soccer ball.
“I saw him shooting before, and I haven’t played for three years now!” he said.
Sean wasn’t buying Hasan’s modesty, saying “he’s talking it down that he’s been out of the game for three years.”
However, in the end it was indeed the rugby player Sean who won the challenge, sinking two penalties through the holes in the target. Hasan didn’t make any, but Sean had to admit afterward that “Hasan was more consistent; he hit the target more often.”
The pressure was on for Hasan as the players got ready for the next challenge, rugby drop kicks. Each player would have five attempts to drop kick a rugby ball through the uprights.
“I’d like to say I’m confident, but it suits his skills. It’s a kicking challenge.” (Rugby’s Sean Armstrong)
Both players performed well in the challenge but again it was Sean who came out on top, winning 4-3. He said he was relieved to have the win in the bag, because the two players kept kicking after the challenge was over and Hasan was quickly getting the hang of it!
With one more challenge to go, it was Hasan’s pride on the line to try and win at least one of the three challenges. The final event saw Sean and Hasan shooting arrows with a bow at a target, and whoever hit the target the most from ten attempts would win.
This time, Hasan got the best of Sean, winning 5-4, but the overall score favored rugby, 2-1.
“I’m relieved not to have let the rugby team down,” said Sean. “I’ve watched the previous YouTube clips and most of the rugby guys have got the goods.”
GALLERY: Click through the pictures at the top of the page!
The win for rugby was a fitting result for the event in Bonn: after the challenge, around a hundred kids participated in a rugby clinic, and the day was capped with a match between the Bonn Rugby Club and the German national sevens team.
After visiting the country holding the soccer World Cup, the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour heads next to the nation holding the handball world title: stay tuned the next DHL Rugby vs. The World Challenge in France!
Follow us on Twitter @DHL_Rugby (#anythingispossible) or Facebook, and catch up on all the Rugby vs. The World action on YouTube!
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