Kicking, stamping, biting, punching: you name it, Danny got done for it. Fastest rugby players of all-time. RR: You were calling for British Rugby League to switch to summer as far back as 1976. MR: The ten-metre rule would be the first thing! I quickly realised that I would rather be on the field doing some damage to opponents than in the changing room with Derek doing some damage to me. The New Zealander was voted the best Rugby League player at the annual RLIF Awards in 2013. MR: I thought I was bulletproof and that I could buy a few players and turn it around. We’d played some ordinary teams, so some of the players who were selected weren’t up to it when the tough stuff came around. MR: Yes, but I was provoked on both occasions. It’s all about slowing the ruck. I got onside with the right people – people like the Chief [Harragon]. Fearless and utterly committed in everything he did, the former Leicester and Bath flanker showed scant regard for personal safety. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size. RR: You had some legal issues on the tour, didn’t you? Despite retiring in 2012, he still holds the record for most red cards in the English Premiership, receiving his marching orders on five separate occasions. MR: We lost the first Test miserably at Lang Park and Johnny would probably say he picked the wrong side. 9. The modern players are a different beast, incredibly fit, athletic and strong and there’s no doubt that the hits are as hard, if not harder than ever. MR: It was great because while I was on the field, I could ensure the game plan went as intended. It takes a special player to earn the New Zealand public’s respect, especially when you’re wearing the number 7 shirt. It comes as tragic new details emerge about the death of Titmuss that’s left the rugby league world in shock. There have been a lot of hard men who have played rugby. One of my last games saw Peter Sterling accuse me of eye-gouging, but I didn’t intentionally do anything. Rugby: 'A genuine hard man' - Referee Nigel Owens picks All Blacks legend Richie McCaw as the hardest player he's ever come across 28 Oct, 2020 01:00 AM 3 minutes to read With violence that would never be tolerated off the footy field, the game has always been rough, tough and dangerous. His hard-man reputation preceded him in a career that saw him win showpiece finals with Castleford and Manly. From the loose cannons who start swinging punches at the slightest provocation to the silent assassins who relish putting in game-changing hits, every rugby team has its on-field enforcers. He grabbed me and drew his fist back and I took two paces backwards – a wise thing to do! After the first incident, we got wind that someone was trying to serve me a writ in Queensland and, had they successfully done so, I wouldn’t have been able to go to Sydney. A rugged, uncompromising prop, Burton made his Gloucester debut at just 18 years old and went on to play 366 times for the Cherry and Whites. Lofty praise. This list may not reflect recent changes . Both were complex characters. As you do (Photo by Ron Moran/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images), Graham Dawe (centre) would face up to anyone (Photo - David Rogers/Allsport/Getty Images), Josh Lewsey drags an opponent along the floor like a strongman dragging a tyre (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images), Rochelle Clarke was nicknamed Rocky. A big, burly number eight, what he lacked in athleticism he made up for in pure rugby nous and sheer bloody mindedness. December 20, 2008 — 12.00am . Pound for pound, Wilko is still the most destructive tackler the game has ever seen and few players have endured so much physical punishment yet kept coming back for more. I was also coaching Great Britain and working for a brewery, so I had three jobs. There are certain things we say that annoy the rest of the country - but we're not sure why! Rugby, Rugby League, Australian Rules, and American Football. How did they compare? MR: Rugby League needs to be played on a good surface. He had a lot of bad habits. During the late 80s and early 90s, Gloucester and England fans relished the sight of "Iron Mike" rampaging around the field, socks rolled down. Never took a backwards step. He is an elite class powerlifter being able to bench press 225 kilograms and squat 275 kilograms. They also tried to get me at the airport. From that bone-shuddering hit on Mat Rogers to his miraculous try-saver on Jean de Villiers, when England winger-cum-fullback Josh Lewsey tackled someone, they stayed tackled. 07. Also, don’t forget to check out the Tallest & Shortest Players in the NRL. The hardship fund will be administered by the independent charity RL Cares, who will award grants to help players deal with their most pressing financial difficulties. At the time I was concerned that Australia were playing to ten metres and were much fitter. As well as coaches, I’d mention my schoolteacher Roy Close at Ashton Road Secondary Modern. You couldn’t see anything incriminating in the video, so I was cleared. Outspoken British rugby writer Stephen Jones has listed former All Blacks skipper Wayne Shelford as his hardest rugby player of all-time. “We may not be any good,” he joked at the post-match function, “but at least we turn up”. Danny Grewcock. The legendary Bath hooker only played a handful of games for England but they weren’t short on incident. A mainstay of the England front row in the early 90s, Brian "Pitbull" Moore was the archetypal modern hooker: mobile, skilful and fiercely competitive. So who are the fastest-ever players to grace the field in the 13-player game? We only had a couple. He simply wore them down, scrum after remorseless scrum, until they couldn’t take anymore. I knew if I gave him a dressing down all the time it wouldn’t work. Paul Woods was one of the roughest, toughest, most notorious rugby players of his generation. He was formerly the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association Heavyweight Champion and Wo Meet the 20 hardest English rugby players that ever lived. Height: 6ft 8” Weight: 313lbs/142kg. RR: You coached arguably the greatest British footballer, Ellery Hanley, and perhaps the best Australian player, Andrew Johns. I couldn’t be at loggerheads with the best player. ”-julianwhite — Lewis Moody (@LewisMoody7) August 15, 2013. 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Renowned for his relentless work-rate, he was the consummate open-side. RR: Which of your coaches do you have the fondest memories of? I thought I could turn them around but couldn’t find the right people. Reilly is an OBE and a member of the British Rugby League Hall of Fame. Winner of six Grand Slams and a Rugby World Cup, the fact she was born with a club foot makes her achievements all the more remarkable. Toughness comes in many forms. The game was brutal then. I remember asking team-mate Peter Peters each week who was the toughest player we were facing, because if I could take one of the tougher players, then people would have a bit of respect for me. Trouble was, his disciplinary record was the stuff of nightmares for his coaches. But we made up. With the ten, the defence has to slow the attacking team with wrestling, so there are three in the tackle. How did you deal with them? With Cockers in that sort of mood, England might have just edged it in an all-out brawl. MR: They’re titanium now and they’re great! *If you enjoyed reading this why not check out our sister website Wales Online's feature on the 50 hardest Welsh rugby players to have ever lived. Rugby League Cares has helped create a special fund to support Toronto Wolfpack players who are suffering hardship caused by the club’s collapse. Take a look at our rogues’ gallery of English rugby hard-nuts and see how many you recognise. “@Rugbyworldmag: We’re having a discussion in the office: who is the hardest rugby player you’ve ever seen play? Anyone prepared to trade blows with Samoa’s Alesana Tuilagi clearly has a few screws loose. A master at winding up the opposition, particularly the French, he has mellowed somewhat since hanging up his boots. A seriously tough customer. RR: What would you change about the modern game? I was young and raw and didn’t like being called a Pommy bastard. I had problems with one journalist and when my son was born, the Mirror’s headline was something like “Baby Boy Born to the Monster!”. RR: Did you experience much ‘Pommy-bashing’ when you first played for Manly? There will be many shapes and sizes at the Rugby World Cup, but these are the players who have illustrated that they are the 'hardest' of them all But the depth and quality weren’t there. Have you been vindicated? 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Manly had about seven internationals and were an amazing side. Never far from trouble, "The Blackpool Tower" was a regular fixture in the England second row from 1985 to 1993. Enough said. Tommy Smales was also a big influence. RR: What was it like coming into the Castleford team as a teenager? Good players make good coaches, but they weren’t up to playing in Super League. I was lucky that we had so many great players and in Maurice Lindsay, I had a very supportive manager. These warriors don't let a torn shirt (or even a broken face) stop them from staying on the field (Photo - David Rogers/Allsport/Getty Images), If your nickname's Buster you aren't to be messed with (Photo - David Rogers/Allsport), Mike Burton (left) was the first English player to get sent off at international level. I’m a bad loser and didn’t get on with some of the directors. How are they now? 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Discipline left a bit to be desired. I enjoyed Halifax. Roger [Millward] was the standout player and with him in great form, we won the second and third Test matches. Not only is he a force on the rugby field he is also a heavyweight boxer with a 6-0 record with three wins by knock out. The Leicester lock and Lions legend was no stranger to the sin-bin, a punch on Saracens’ Robbie Russell one of many red-mist moments. Hanley was as versatile a player as you would ever hope to find, yet he managed to excel in almost every position on the pitch. I was lucky to play though, because I’d been in bed with ‘flu the day before. But the game in Australia is almost the national sport and they had plenty of high-quality players themselves. Perhaps the hardest of them all, Harford was a throwback even in the early days of the Premier League. Wide World of Sports reports a number of young players … MR: Yes, but I think that’s what made me mentally tough. He holds the dubious distinction of being the first English player ever to be sent off at international level, dismissed for a late tackle against Australia in 1975. Edwin Maka is an absolute beast, and at just 21 years of age weighs over 140kg. In 1973, hooker Pullin famously captained England against Ireland, in Dublin, at the height of The Troubles. Stiff-arm tackles, headbutts, spear tackles - all aimed at maiming the opposition players - were once just part of the game. MR: Ellery was a fantastic player, but I actually fell out with him because he took advantage of a situation and it shouldn’t have happened. You didn‘t need to wrestle with the five-metre rule. He gave his best all the time, although there were some who didn’t. Greatest Rugby Players. You don’t want to be wading through muddy and wet fields. What’s more, she did it the hard way, playing prop. Andrew Sheridan has announced retirement following some medical grounds. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leeds Rhinos players: Pages in category "Leeds Rhinos players" The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 485 total. In a new publication by Luke Upton entitled Hard Men of Rugby, Owens wrote the foreword and sprung something of a surprise as his pick did not feature amongst the twenty players … Nicknamed "Rocky", but Clarke wasn’t a fighter — just an old-school, tungsten-tough competitor. His last fight was in Feb of 2013 but he has postponed his boxing career to focus on rugby. Do you know who are the heaviest and lightest players in the NRL? He was a bit wild. I knew if they were going to do anything, they had to improve. I played in winter when they scraped the snow off the field and it was rock hard. Never one to shy away from a challenge, the pugnacious Leicester hooker famously stood toe-to-toe with opposite number Norm Hewitt during the Haka in 1997. Stranded Toronto Wolfpack players plead for help from RFL and Super League after third month without pay. A true master of the dark arts, he went on to become a citing commissioner for the RFU: a classic case of poacher turned gamekeeper. The New Zealand-born Tongan rugby union player is one of the most physically extreme players in the rugby world at the moment, and his sheer size and speed for his weight is frightening. He moved into coaching, winning the Challenge Cup with Castleford in 1986 and the Grand Final with Newcastle Knights in 1997. It was a challenge, but the players could walk away after games and be proud of what they’d achieved. A tighthead prop known for his destructive scrummaging, Julian White had a notoriously short fuse, once flooring fellow England prop Andrew Sheridan with a single punch. Banned by the RFU following the fiery Wales v England encounter in 1987, he later gave as good as he got against a thuggish Eastern Province pack on England’s 1994 tour of South Africa. JONNY MAY – England – 10.71 SECONDS (100M) The speedster clocked 10.71 for the 100 metres. Malcolm Reilly was not just one of the great rugby players of all time, he was one of the toughest. In late 2007, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League commissioned 130 experts to select the 100 best rugby league players in the game's 100-year history in Australia. I didn’t realise shirts stretched a metre and a half! Rugby union (pre-29 August 1895), and rugby league footballers who have played for Leeds Rhinos (Leeds 1870–1996), see List of Leeds Rhinos players. A fly-half? Just don’t get him started on crooked scrum feeds. We were massive underdogs, but I knew if we could play at our best, we could shock them, and we turned it around and beat them 22-16. It is, without doubt, one of the toughest sports to play. No punches or kicks required, just a punishingly low scrummaging technique that few could live with. 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. Nicknamed "Mad Dog" and it was easy to see why. Derek Turner at Castleford toughened me up as a player. The most capped England player of all time, Rugby World Cup winner Rochelle Clarke made a staggering 137 appearances for her country. That makes us love him even more (Photo - Dave Rogers/Allsport), Lewis Moody was called Mad Dog although we doubt anyone said it to his face (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images), John Pullin carrying a hay bale. Anyone who plays rugby can rightly be considered a hard man. Whisper these names quietly, lest you stir their mighty anger - these are the 15 hardest players at the Rugby World Cup. One of three serving police officers in the formidable England pack of the early 1990s, "Deano" knew how to push the laws to the limit. I’ve been to the gym this morning. Writing for the Sunday Times, the controversial Welsh scribe placed Shelford at the top of his rankings as both he and English colleague Stuart Barnes continue their 'top 10' series around international rugby. He made an issue of it, as did a newspaper, so I took it to court. 9.Martin Johnson. Plying his trade for Wasps and London Welsh, Michael "Buster" White was one of the best back rowers never to play for England. He was such a natural footballer. I’d been playing soccer, but one day the bus didn’t turn up, so I got on the rugby bus. The hardest of all the hard men of league Vince Karalius, 1932-2008. We reckon he's pretty proud of that (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images), Even as a coach Richard Cockerill looks pretty damn scary (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images), When Maggie Alphonsi tackled an opponent they stayed tackled (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images), Fran Cotton (in the foreground) with a speck of mud in his eye (Photo by Adrian Murrell/Getty Images), Brian Moore loved winding up his opponents. The epic tales on and off the pitch of the hardest rugby players in history as three Welshmen make the list A new book is being published featuring rugby's hardest men walesonline But we went on to win the Grand Final in 1997. Penrith centre Tyrone Peachey concedes Canberra counterpart Joey Leilua is arguably the hardest player to tackle in the NRL right now. In between, he coached Great Britain to series wins over New Zealand and came agonisingly close to winning Ashes and World Cup triumphs in 1990 and 1992. Doug Laughton was in the second row. MR: Johnny Whiteley was coach of the successful 1970 touring party, so he is right up there. Edwin Maka. The 20 hardest players in Six Nations history. A tenacious tackler and a menace at the breakdown, Maggie "The Machine" Alphonsi is one of the finest flankers England has ever produced. Of the four, rugby is neither the fastest, longest, toughest, or most skilful. But that’s exactly what Winterbottom did with the British and Irish Lions in 1983 and 1993. Meet the 20 hardest English rugby players that ever lived. The game Rugby Union or simply Rugby is recognized as one of the main sports on planet earth because of its amazing popularity and huge active participation. Cotton was a versatile prop who could play on both sides of the scrum, and a pioneer in terms of strength and conditioning. He’d said to me on the plane, “How do you think you’ll enjoy playing in the second row?” But in the end, it was Doug who played there, with me in the loose-forward role we had competed for. MR: I had a very good relationship with most, but they used to highlight aspects of my play. Summer football is much better. 10.Jerry Collins. Known as the Terminator, Collins was one of the toughest players to ever step onto the field, ensuring his opponents knew when they’d been hit by The Terminator. Andrew was a very complex player, very gifted. MR: I started at Cas when I was working at a local colliery. I had to get the best out of him. I vividly remember coming up against Arthur Beetson. The directors were having too much influence. Tough doesn’t even come close. I managed to get on the plane and then an announcement came up before take-off, “Would Mr Reilly please press his call button, we have a lady here who wishes to speak to him.” We all knew what it was about, so every other player pressed their light. The ranks of rugby league around the world have been liberally peppered with hardmen. See Monday’s League Express for the second part of Alex Murphy’s Rugby League Heroes interview, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), They will miss the play-offs but they will avoid relegation, The Forbidden Game - The Untold Story of French Rugby League, RUGBY LEAGUE HEROES | The hardest player of his generation, Watch Rugby League Back Chat (Show 27) on TotalRL.com now →. RR: How were you treated by the media? A multi-talented player who has already represented both the Jillaroos and PNG Orchids, there are few who go close to footing it with Kuk when she hits the gas, a point she displayed on a number of occasi… I don’t do much cardio but they’re fine for what I do. Enough said (Photo - Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images for Harlequins FC), Wade Dooley (left) charges down a kick with scant regard for his own well-being (Photo - Russell Cheyne/Allsport), A karate black belt and absolutely massive. If they don't want to give you your ball back we suggest you let them keep it. He really looked after me over there. The 60s, 70s and 80s remain what was the golden era of Australian Rugby League, certainly when we’re talking about these brutal encounters. From this list, a limited panel of experts picked a "Team of the Century" - a team of 17 players considered to be the best Australian players of all time. Sheridan was capped 40 times by England and was known to be most powerful dude at his peak days. RR: Knee injuries affected most of your career. The standing ovation he received said it all. They’re the players who strike fear into their opponents and have referees reaching for their pocket — and England has produced some of the best in the business. RUGBY LEAGUE HEROES | The hardest player of his generation Richard de la Riviere 15/09/2018 Malcolm Reilly was not just one of the great rugby players of all time, he was one of the toughest. His 19 year career saw him score 416 tries, including 20 for Great Britain. MR: We did, but you just have to live with the fact that we came up short. She shook her head and left the plane, but they eventually got me in Sydney. From the loose cannons who start swinging punches at the slightest provocation to the silent assassins who relish putting in game-changing hits, every rugby team has its on-field enforcers. Followed swiftly by a clip from a pretty low level game of rugby union, in New Zealand's Dunedin Premier League. He had a football brain and a great kicking game – the complete package. RR: You came so close to winning the Ashes and the World Cup with Great Britain. So I would get his brother Matthew and Paul Harragon to look after him. MR: I enjoyed the first season [1988-89] at Leeds but two games into the following season, I resigned. Sadly it was rugby, so the All Blacks won. A big-hitting, hard-carrying No.6, Teague was voted Man of the Series on the brutal 1989 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia. The former British Army officer could throw a decent punch too — just ask Danny Cipriani. We wouldn't want to play against them, you wouldn't want to play against them...a quick look at our Top 5 hardest rugby players. But in Dennis Hartley, Tony Fisher and Cliff Watson, we had a great front row. Legendary referee Nigel Owens has singled out the man he believes to be the hardest player he has come across on the pitch. Representing England 37 times between 1988 and 1993, prop Probyn didn’t intimidate opponents with hard-man, bully-boy tactics. You could express yourself physically, but you had to be mentally prepared. He may have been sin-binned regularly, but he was there, we’re sure, for standing up for his mates. RR: How did you find being a player-coach when you returned to Castleford? I knew they didn’t like Pommies. And at Manly, there was Ken Arthurson, who was the secretary-manager. RR: How did the Newcastle Knights players take to you, given that you criticised their fitness levels as soon as you started there? A three time Man of Steel winner, Hanley was named as the greatest British rugby league player … I didn’t need that. RR: All your Great Britain caps came in 1970, the year we last won the Ashes. Plenty of coaches today must wish they were out there, rather than firing instructions into a walkie-talkie. Former Papua New Guinea rugby sevens representative A brilliant athlete oozing pace and evasive running, Kuk is the type of player who turns half chances into four-pointers and constantly puts opposing defensive lines under duress. The one amongst the strongest rugby players in the world destroyed Australian front row almost single handedly. RR: You also coached Leeds and Halifax before you went back to Australia. Two years later, I won the Lance Todd at Wembley. There were nice people at Leeds and the chairman was a cracking guy. We had a skinny five, but we had good offensive football. Yes, but this is no ordinary number 10. He didn’t smoke or drink, but I once had to send him home, as an example because you had to have discipline in your squad. Why didn’t it work out for you there? Topping a list of England’s hardest rugby players? 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