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All Blacks, Zebo, Vunipola and others respond to NFL punter's bold rugby claim
By Ian Cameron
The All Blacks have responded to an NFL punter who has claims that they would ‘dominate’ rugby ‘easily’ if he played the sport.
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Free agent Marquette King caused bemusement on the social media platform and drew plenty of guffaws when he tweeted: ‘If I played rugby I would dominate it easily’.
If I played rugby I would dominate it easily.
— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) June 20, 2020
The NFL punter was deluged with a tonne of good-natured backlash.
The All Blacks tweeted back at the former NFL star: “You’re welcome to join us for training anytime.”
You’re welcome to join us for training anytime. https://t.co/QanJhkhV8z
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 20, 2020
— Billy Vunipola (@bvunipola) June 20, 2020
— Simon Zebo (@SimonZebo) June 20, 2020
Play tighthead, it’s fun they said! ? pic.twitter.com/mtbhpaAQsc
— Petrus du Plessis (@PetrusduPlessis) June 20, 2020
Welcome to ‘ave a go in a session at Oval Park, anytime.
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) June 20, 2020
Come over big lad and we can do a scrum session ???
— Perry-John Parker (@perryjp) June 20, 2020
Would love to see it brother #NoPads
— Jerome Kaino (@jeromekaino) June 20, 2020
King seemed surprised by the response, Tweeting later:
Dude goes out his way to go on a thirst trap pic on IG just to comment I wouldn’t stand a chance in rugby. ? that’s how u choose to start your morning?
— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) June 20, 2020
He also seemed to enjoy the response of Squidge Rugby, who tweeted: “If I was a bicycle, I’d win the Tour de France’.
This is my Fav tweet of 2020 so far… https://t.co/yWNyenCYQd
— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) June 20, 2020
Maybe the 31-year-old could yet take an offer to play the game, be it in Major League Rugby (MLR) or even at his local rugby club. One thing is clear, he certainly knows how to engage rugby fans, even if his approach is a little maverick.
