If you entered every rugby player into a 100m race, who would win?

Tuesday, 27 July 2021 at 10:46

byRugby Rucker

It’s a question often asked, but who is the fastest rugby player in the world?

We’ve checked the stats and simulated how a 100m race would finish based on international rugby stars top speeds reached in matches during 2020 and 2021.

It’s fair to say it would be a VERY CLOSE finish.

* This list doesn't include sevens players.

Image credit: Erik van Leeuwen, attribution: Erik van Leeuwen (bron: Wikipedia).

FIFTH. ANTHONY WATSON - England - 11.2 SECONDS (100m)

Current age 27
Major teams Bath Rugby, British and Irish Lions, England Saxons, England Under-20s, London Irish, England
Position Fullback, Wing
Height 6 ft 2 in
Weight 205 lb

Once ran a 100 metres in 11.2 seconds at a school sports day and his raw pace saw the 21-year-old have a trial for Premier League giants Chelsea. Helped England Under-20s beat Wales in the final of the 2013 Junior World Cup before making the step up to the Test side.

DID YOU KNOW? Watson played for England in the 2011 under 20s 6 Nations Championship at the age of 17

FOURTH. Louis Rees-Zammit – Wales – 11.1 SECONDS (100M)

Current age 20
Major teams Gloucester Rugby, Wales
Position Wing
Height 6 ft 3 in
Weight 194 lb

The exciting Gloucester youngster has been timed at 11.1 seconds, having frequently shown defenders a clean pair of heels with his thrilling try exploits in the English Premiership. He made the most clean breaks of any player during the 2021 Six Nations (9).

DID YOU KNOW? The youngster began his youth career with Cardiff Blues before joining Gloucester

BRONZE MEDAL. JONNY MAY – England – 10.71 SECONDS (100M)

Current age 31
Major teams England Saxons, England Under-20s, Gloucester Rugby, Leicester Tigers, England
Position Wing
Height 6 ft 2 in
Weight 198 lb

The speedster clocked 10.71 for the 100 metres. With a strong argument to be England’s quickest wide man ever, May is gradually improving his finishing prowess and is now arguably the first name on the teamsheet for head coach Eddie Jones.

DID YOU KNOW? In 2020, May became England's second highest try scorer alongside Will Greenwood and Ben Cohen with 31 test tries

SILVER MEDAL. CHESLIN KOLBE - South Africa - 10.7 SECONDS

Current age 27
Major teams South Africa Under-20s, Stormers, Toulouse, Western Province, South Africa
Position Wing
Height 5 ft 7 in
Weight 176 lb

This was the Springbok speedsters time from school so he could be possible even quicker now!

DID YOU KNOW? Kolbe is a cousin of South African track and field sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, who won the gold medal in the 400 metres at the 2016 Olympics

GOLD MEDAL. SBU NKOSI - South Africa - 10.59 SECONDS

Current age 25
Major teams South Africa
Position Wing
Height 6 ft 0 in
Weight 211 lb

Comes with a deceptive frame, which makes him a stocky 97kg, despite being 2cm shy of being 1.8m tall. Couple that with the speed that saw him clock 10.59 seconds over 100m and the footwork that make him almost impossible to defend against at times.