NFL player Marquette King has put out a controversial tweet that provoked online responses from some of rugby’s leading Test stars and teams.
In the tweet, King cheekily said: ‘If I played rugby I would dominate easily.’
If I played rugby I would dominate it easily.
— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) June 20, 2020
This was met with a backlash of well over 1,500 replies and close to a 1,000 retweets from rugby supporters, players and teams alike – all implying the NFL punter would struggle in rugby union without the protective gear used in gridiron.
I’d bend him right up, stick to wearing your bike helmet and shoulder cushions my boy.
— Gengey (@EllisGenge) June 20, 2020
Would love to see it brother #NoPads
— Jerome Kaino (@jeromekaino) June 20, 2020
Bro you just kick balls relax ?
— Michael Chee Kam (@chee_kam) June 22, 2020
For real, @MarquetteKing I think you’re an elite athlete & everything, I want to see how elite you are. Can you make decisions? tackle? pass? Carry? Can you compete in the air? Lift/jump in a line out? Scrum? Ruck? Ill explain when you show up… if…
— Danny Barrett (@bookemshaaarkie) June 20, 2020
Play tighthead, it’s fun they said! ? pic.twitter.com/mtbhpaAQsc
— Petrus du Plessis (@PetrusduPlessis) June 20, 2020
Well Gits and Swoop go ok with the pigskin! Code swap @MarquetteKing?? #GoWallabies https://t.co/Wx5Xnbs7iL pic.twitter.com/4xd7DBY9KH
— Wallabies (@wallabies) June 22, 2020
You’re welcome to join us for training anytime. https://t.co/QanJhkhV8z
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) June 20, 2020
Cmon down brother walk the talk ? https://t.co/rEcuEappXe
— Nick Williams (@nick8williams) June 20, 2020
“But can you punt it on a cold rainy night in Galway?” https://t.co/2VeaIHAjtZ
— Lee Byrne (@byrney_15) June 21, 2020
— nemzy (@nemani_nadolo) June 20, 2020
I love the confidence. If you wish I could organise a little 10m gauntlet drill with Radradra, Tuisova, Yato, Nakarara and Mata as an introduction? I can even format the drill to suit, 15 seconds on, 15 minutes off… https://t.co/ehvp1el8dI
— Simon Raiwalui (@SimonRaiwalui) June 20, 2020
— Billy Vunipola (@bvunipola) June 20, 2020
Good luck with the pay cut ?
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) June 20, 2020
If my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle
— Tony Buckley (@horsebucks33) June 20, 2020
Really, leave your pads and helmet in your bag ???
— Neil Back MBE (@NeilBack) June 20, 2020
Welcome to ‘ave a go in a session at Oval Park, anytime.
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) June 20, 2020
As an American I get embarrassed when NFL players try to claim they would dominate rugby. NFL is a collection of one skill players who are exhausted after 30 seconds of action. Most rugby players are QB, ILB, WR hybrids who play 80mins. Not free agent punters…
— Rick Merger (@RickMerger) June 21, 2020
Photo: Fox Sports
