Top 20 multi-sport athletes: Here's what other sports rugby players have tried

Rugby News

by Steven Smith

Wednesday, 29 August 2018 at 14:55

bySteven Smith

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RUCK.co.uk pays tribute to those talented multi-sport athletes who played more than one sport, including rugby.

Here are our top 20 multi-sport athletes.

1. Sonny Bill Williams - Rugby and Boxing

A New Zealand international in rugby league, rugby union and rugby sevens, as well as an undefeated professional boxer.

2. Eric Liddell - Rugby and Athletics

He not only played rugby for Scotland, winning seven caps between 1921 and1923, he won the 400m gold medal at the 1924 Olympics in Paris. Famously refused to run in the 100m heats, which were held on Sunday due to his religious beliefs as shown in the 1981 film, Chariots of Fire.

3. Gerwyn Price - Rugby and Darts

n 2017 he was the runner-up at the UK Open, Price's first major event final. Price has also played rugby union for Welsh Premier Division sides.[

4. Israel Dagg - Rugby and Cricket

An All Black wing/fullback who was a Black Caps prospect as a pace bowler.

5. Jarryd Hayne - Rugby and American Football

Hayne is an Australian professional rugby league player and former American football and rugby union sevens player.

6. Terry Price - Rugby and American Football

A Welsh rugby union & league international and later a professional American football player for the Buffalo Bills.

7. Melissa Ruscoe - Rugby and Football

Captained the New Zealand national teams in both football and rugby union.

8. Hayden Smith - Rugby, Basketball and American Football

An Australian-born USA international lock who played for Saracens. He had trained with Australian NBL side the Sydney Kings before taking up a scholarship to play basketball at the New York Institute of Technology and Metropolitan State University of Denver. He later signed with NFL side the New York Jets as a tight end in 2012.

9. Nate Ebner - Rugby Sevens and American Football

New England Patriots safety who played rugby sevens for the USA at the 2016 Olympics.

10. Daniel Adongo - Rugby and American Football

A former Kenyan sevens representative who played as a lock/loose forward in the Currie Cup, ITM Cup, and Super Rugby before signing with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL as a linebacker.

11. Alastair Hignell - Rugby and Cricket

After leaving university, he continued playing rugby for Bristol and England in the winter, while also working as a teacher (including at Bristol Cathedral School and Sherborne School), and cricket for Gloucestershire in the summer.

12. John Hopoate - Rugby and Boxing

After multiple suspensions forced him to retire from rugby league, he pursued a career in boxing, eventually becoming the Australian heavyweight champion.

13. Perry Baker - Rugby and American Football

A USA sevens international who played football at Fairmont State University and in the Arena Football League before taking up rugby union.

14. Rob Waddell - Rugby and Rowing

A retired rower, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist who also played lock for Waikito.

5. Darren Clark - Rugby and Athletics

He was an Australian retired sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres before taking up rugby.

16. Jeff Wilson - Rugby and Cricket

Talented sportsman Jeff Wilson chose to represent New Zealand at rugby over cricket. Wilson played for the All Blacks 60 times between 1993 - 2002. He played six ODIs for the New Zealand cricket team, before choosing to focus on rugby.

17. Gavin Hastings - Rugby and American Football

He was Scotland’s granite-hard talisman for a decade, not only as the last line of defence but as a place kicker of unerring accuracy who often proved the difference between sides.

In 1996, Hasting joined the Scottish Claymores an American Football team in the NFL Europe. He played a single season as a placekickerscoring 24 of 27 conversions but missed his only attempt at a field goal.

18. M.J.K Smith - Rugby and Cricket

Smith was a cricketer who was captain of Oxford University Cricket Club (1956), Warwickshire County Cricket Club (1957–67) and the England cricket team (1963–66). He was one of England's most popular cricket captains and, as he also played rugby union, Smith was England's last double international.