- Fiat Professional pits football against rugby in the Fiat Fullback Challenge, a series of strength, accuracy and versatility tests
- Danny Mills (England), Jackie McNamara (Scotland), Lee Byrne (Wales) and Geordan Murphy (Ireland) take part to determine which sport would win
- Challenge coincides with launch of all-new Fiat Fullback pick-up, which featured in the challenges
Fiat Professional gathered together some of the finest fullbacks that the British Isles has ever produced to answer the age-old question – which sport is better: football or rugby? Danny Mills (England) and Jackie McNamara (Scotland) made up Team Football, while ex-Lions fullbacks Geordan Murphy (Ireland) and Lee Byrne (Wales) represented Team Rugby.
Challenge One
The two teams faced each other in a series of unique challenges incorporating the new Fiat Fullback. Challenge one involved the two teams pulling the new Fiat Fullback, World’s Strongest Man-style, as far as they could in 15 seconds in a best of three format. Team Football took Team Rugby by surprise in round one, storming to a convincing win, despite an obvious size disadvantage. However, Team Rugby reasserted themselves, narrowly winning rounds two and three to emerge victorious from the first challenge.
Challenge Two
Challenge two tested accuracy, and required the teams to strike footballs through the back doors of a moving Fiat Professional Talento van, with two rounds of ten strikes. Despite their obvious advantage, Team Football struggled, losing round one 3-2 to Team Rugby. They levelled the scores in round two winning 2-1 to send it to a ‘sudden death’ round. Danny Mills eventually hit the winning shot for Team Football, bouncing the ball into the back of the Fiat Professional Talento.
Challenge Three
Challenge three was a test of versatility to confirm how each team would fare at the other’s sport. Team Football had to individually catch three high kicks with a rugby ball, as if they were claiming an up and under, while Team Rugby had to control a football kicked high into the air with their feet. Points were awarded for technique and flair. Team Football emerged victorious following some textbook high ball catches from Danny Mills, meaning they claimed the overall challenge victory and bragging rights over their rugby counterparts.
To view the full video click here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES9B07PRmsc
Commenting on the challenge, the victorious Danny Mills said: “It was great to get one over on our rugby counterparts. It was a competitive day – I think we took Lee and Geordan a little by surprise in the first round of the Fullback pull challenge – the look on their faces said it all. Ultimately the right sport won. Who would have thought Scotland and England could come together to emerge victorious?”
Leicester Tigers Coach and former Lion, Geordan Murphy commented: “Lee and I are feeling a little hard done by after that. We went into the challenges full of confidence but Danny and Jackie were a lot tougher than expected. We’re just relieved we managed to recover in the Fullback pull challenge – I’m not sure we would have ever lived losing that down.”
With the new Fullback, Fiat Professional has entered the buoyant medium-duty pick up segment which accounts for 650,000 vehicles a year in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. Engineered to meet the broad needs of business users – both professional and recreational – the new Fiat Professional Fullback offers high levels of flexibility and dependability. The front of the Fullback adopts the upmarket appearance of a sports SUV while distinctive swage lines along the flanks tie the front of the pick-up to the rear, integrating the load bed as part of the vehicle’s overall design. Prices start at £21,095 (excluding VAT, VED, delivery and plates) for the 2.4 Diesel 150HP Double Cab 6 Spd Manual SX (MY16).
The all-new Fiat Fullback is available from all Fiat and Fiat Professional dealerships in the UK. For more information or to find your nearest dealership, visit https://www.fiat.co.uk/fiat-fullback-pick-up
–ENDS–
To download the full set of challenge images click here – https://we.tl/vGUZRA6wWV
Fiat Professional is the commercial vehicle division of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Its range is capable of responding to all professional needs by covering 97 per cent of the market. These are the solid foundations on which the brand is based. With a range of new products, Fiat Professional is evolving by expanding its commercial sales force and dealership network, boosting service quality and accessing new markets with made-to-measure solutions.
The Fullbacks:
Team Football
Danny Mills
Mills, an ex-England international with 19 caps, is best-known for his time at Leeds United, helping them to reach a historic Champions League Semi-Final in the 2000/01 season. He moved to Manchester City in 2004, before being loaned to Hull City (2006), Charlton Athletic (2007) and Derby County (2008). Mills is now a regular commentator for the BBC, presenting BBC Radio coverage of football, while also regularly appearing on Match of the Day 2.
Jackie McNamara
McNamara is a Celtic and Scotland legend, having made 256 appearances for Celtic between 1995-2005, and gained 33 Scotland caps throughout his career. While at Celtic he won the Premier division title four times, the Scottish Cup three times and the Scottish League Cup three times. He then went on to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aberdeen, Falkirk and Partick Thistle. Since retiring he has had management spells at Partick Thistle, Aberdeen and York City, where he is now Chief Executive.
Team Rugby
Geordan Murphy
Murphy is one of Ireland’s most celebrated players of the modern era, playing 74 times and scoring 98 points for his country, during which time he was part of the squad that won the Grand Slam at the 2009 Six Nations. He was selected for the 2005 Lions tour, making two appearances including the third test match. In his club career, he was a one-club man, making 322 appearances for Leicester Tigers, scoring 691 points in the process. Following his retirement from rugby, he has taken up a coaching role at Leicester Tigers as Assistant Coach. During his time at Leicester, he won the Premiership title eight times and the Heineken Cup twice.
Lee Byrne
Byrne made 46 appearances for Wales throughout his career, as well as being named in the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour, featuring in three warm up games and the first test, before a thumb injury cut short his tour. He was a crucial member of the Wales squad that won the 2008 Grand Slam. His club career involved Llanelli, Scarlets, Ospreys, Clermont and the Newport Gwent Dragons.
