Guinness Premiership : GUINNESS unveil the 'ultimate' rugby player

Guinness' ultimate player - with at touch of Chabal, Catt, Buxton and Tindall

GUINNESS unveil the 'ultimate' rugby player

23 May 2008, 9:15 am

By Jonathan McConnell

The brewers of GUINNESS® today unveil the 'ultimate' GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP player, as voted for by a panel of rugby experts. Made-up of the body-parts of some of the season's most outstanding performers, the final result takes on the appearance of an Anglo-French giant.

The judging panel were asked to vote across nine categories ranging from ‘best rugby brain’ to ‘best cauliflower ears’ to create the definitive rugby-playing powerhouse.

The result sees London Wasps’ Danny Cipriani kick Jonny Wilkinson’s famous left foot to touch, to sit alongside Charlie Hodgson’s right boot. Leicester’s speed king, Tom Varndell’s legs were needed to inject some vital pace and support to the strength and size of Andrew Sheridan’s torso, the man mountain from Sale Sharks. Whilst James Simpson-Daniel’s safe hands and Mike Catt’s rugby know-how gives the player a level head.

Although Mike Tindall’s nose and Pete Buxton’s ears have clearly seen better days, both were recognised as the perfect compliment to Sebastian Chabal’s iconic black locks and the giant body of a true GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP legend.

James Simpson-Daniel of Gloucester Rugby said: “There are so many outstanding players in the GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP that to even be considered is a real honour and a privilege – I am just glad something like that doesn’t actually exist.”

The winner from each category:

Best hair - Sebastian Chabal (Sale Sharks)
Best rugby brain - Mike Catt (London Irish)
Best cauliflower ears - Peter Buxton (Gloucester)
Most damaged nose - Mike Tindall (Gloucester)
Strongest player - Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks)
Best hands - James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester)
Fastest Legs - Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers)
Best right boot - Charlie Hodgson (Sales Sharks)
Best left boot - Danny Cipriani (London Wasps)