Fiat Professional pits football against rugby in the Fiat Fullback Challenge, a series of strength, accuracy and versatility tests.
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 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, meaning they claimed the overall challenge victory and bragging rights over their rugby counterparts.
Commenting on the challenge and Team Football’s victory, Danny 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 added: “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).
