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'It's not some of the rugby players' Kiwi sprinter challenges All Blacks speedsters
By Henry Lee
There’s often been discussion among rugby fans in New Zealand about who the fastest rugby player in the country is.
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The New Zealand franchises are full of speedsters on the rugby field, but none have ever really been tested on a track against professional sprinters.
Names like Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, and Caleb Clarke are often thrown around, but New Zealand’s fastest sprinter, Tiaan Whelpton, is convinced he would beat them all in a race.
Whelpton recently broke a 30-year New Zealand 60m indoor record, finishing second with 6.5 seconds in Canberra last month.
The 24-year told RNZ after his race that his 6.50 60m time translates to 9.9 or 10 seconds exactly (for 100m), showing that he’s up there with the worlds best.
The Kiwi sprinter achieved a personal best on Sunday at the Sir Graeme Douglas International meet in Auckland, running his 100m race in 10.10 seconds.
The sprinter’s claims came from an interview with Paddy Gower on “This is the F#$%ing News”, where Gower asked Whelpton whether he thinks he’s the fastest person in New Zealand.
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“So that would be me. It’s not some of the rugby players. I think because some of the social media commentators will have you believe, you mentioned the All Blacks,” Whelpton told Gower.
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Gower then asked the Kiwi sprinter how he would go against some of the quickest Rugby players in a 100m race.
“Don’t get me wrong, these rugby guys, are quick. But I think it definitely helps that the other people they’re running against on the pitch are not very quick.
“I think if I had to estimate, I’d say some of these guys could probably go mid 11 seconds in 100 meters.
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“So I’d love to do a race against these guys. We can figure out some sort of a handicap and a head start and donate some money to charity. I’d be all over that.”
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Fast Rugby players are not True Sprinters in the track sense and never will be. They have to run scores of sprints in a match in between running to defensive positions, around rucks not to mention tackling. Just counting running there is a relatively significant aerobic element to what a rugby winger needs to do compared to an elite sprinter. Ergo a great International winger could never be a great International sprinter. They would lack the raw power and capacity. That guy isn't boasting, he was just politely answering a silly question with facts.
Certain Rugby wingers might make good 400m-800m runners though depending on how talented.
Doug Howlett was a 400 m runner.
I mean, he's correct, he would be quicker and the times the rugby players are putting up are not done in rugby boots with a ball in hand. He would be quicker, but he's a sprinter and his training consists of doing that every day. I do wonder what his times are like compared to the two American ex sprinters that played for the eagles.
If the ex-sprinters made it onto a rugby team it means that they did not have the raw speed to be national class sprinters. They would not beat the NZ record holder and probably would not have the anaerobic endurance to make a really elite rugby team.
Let's put into perspective 1st. Rugby players run differently to create balance to stay upright or keep their feet, if hit. Sprinters don't!
Do it, put it on Stan for Aussie viewers like me
Will Jordan, Crusaders fullback is very quick. You can throw his team mate Braydon Ennor in there too. I am looking forward to them both being back after missing last weeks Super. Will this Friday and Braydon Ennor in s few weeks time.
I thought Ennor was incredibly slow, or am I thinking of Goodhue?
Do it, in Rugby boots, on a Rugby field, over 60 metres.
I'm sure rugby can help him break the ten second barrier by getting Bakkies Botha to chase him around for a bit.
He was born in SA, probably would have the opposite effect.
Completely agree with Tiaan, not a single super rugby player would get within 5-10 over 100m, sprinting is different than rugby
If Doug Howlett could do it in 10.94 seconds, and Jonah Lomu in 10.7 seconds during the early pro era, then there's no reason someone couldn't come close today. The thing is no measures 100m sprint times for Rugby players, they're more focussed on metres per seconds and top speed, of which Reiko has hit 10.3, or 37 kmph. I'm willing to bet plenty of 7s players could give him a run for his money though.
Have Tiaan sprint with a rugby ball in his hands for 100m and then see if he can break 11 seconds-highly unlikely while carrying a ball which Tiaan does not take into consideration during his boasting.