Here are five players who were:
Jason Robinson Wing, England
Nicknamed Billy Whizz after the Beano character, Robinson was known for his incredible acceleration and his ability to seemingly change direction in mid-air. He signed for Wigan while still a schoolboy and made his Great Britain debut at 19.
After achieving everything there was to achieve in league, Robinson, still only 26, turned to union in 2000. He made his England debut a few months later and was selected for the British Lions team in 2001. Robinson was a key member of the England side that won the rugby union world cup in 2003.
Lotte Tuqiri Wing, Australia
Tuqiri played on the wing for the successful Brisbane Broncos league side. He graced league from 2000-2002, his pace and power earning him State of Origin games and also the captaincy of his native Fiji before he switched allegiance to Australia.
Tuqiri switched codes in 2002, earning his first Wallabies cap in June 2003, Tuqiri was part of Australia’s 2003 world cup squad, scoring in their loss to England in the final. Despite discipline problems which have seen him suspended and fined, Tuqiri has played 67 times for the Wallabies scoring 30 tries, both numbers he will be looking to increase.
Jonathan Davies Outside Half, Wales
Jonathan Davies was one of the few players in the 80’s spoken of in the same breath as the Welsh legends of the 70’s. Great pace and acceleration allied with a confidence bordering on arrogance saw Davies given the hallowed Welsh no. 10 jersey. He scored a try and the winning drop goal in his debut against England and by the time the inaugural rugby World Cup came along in 1987, was the lynchpin of the team who came 3rd and who won the triple crown and championship in 1988.
A disastrous tour to New Zealand saw Davies follow many of his team mates into rugby league when he signed for Widnes. Despite many believing he’d be too small, he adjusted to the game and made a huge impact, winning the Man of Steel award in ‘93/’94. Davies made his Great Britain debut in the same game as Jason Robinson and gained 10 caps, scoring a famous try against Australia at Wembley.
Davies returned to Union at the end of his career, but even though he gained three more caps for Wales, his best days were behind him.
Va’aiga Tuigamala Wing, New Zealand
‘Inga the Winger’ was a beast of a rugby player, standing 5’11” and weighing nearly 17 ½ stone. He played 19 times for the All Blacks, from 1991-1993 scoring five times including one in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
Although he was a success as a union player, it was when he signed for Wigan that his best was seen. The professional training regime helped him keep his weight under control, something that had been a problem in Union, and he became a wrecking ball of a player, helping to maintain Wigan as the dominant force in British rugby league at this time.
In 1996, he returned to Union, earning 24 caps for his native Samoa and playing for them in the 1999 world cup.
Terry Price Full Back, Wales
When Terry Price was selected to play for Llanelli against the All Blacks in 1963, he had to ask his headmaster for time off school! Price played eight times for Wales, helping them to a triple crown in 1965 and he toured with the Lions in 1966. A full back, he was strong, fast and had a prodigious boot
In 1967, at the age of 22, Price, ‘Went North’, signing for Bradford Northern for the huge sum of £8,000. In 1970, he became a dual Lion, again touring New Zealand and Australia, this time in the Great Britain rugby league side.
Success in two sports wasn’t enough for Price and he finished his career in the NFL as a kicker for the Buffalo Bills. Sadly, he was killed in a car accident at the age of 47.
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