Could the world’s best professional athletes and Olympians form a competitive 7s dream team? 

Rugby requires a combination of strength, speed, and skill; so pigeonholing these specialized athletes into playmaking positions proves difficult. But the crossover has been done before ...

So why not again?

But if anyone were to carry their weight in rugby it would be these 14 athletes.

Two summers ago the world was introduced to rugby sevens at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Last summer we selected fifteen NFL players that would make the best rugby fifteens side. 

The fitness of these players and positioning on the pitch over an 80 minute fifteens match were called into question by FloRugby fans. Compared to fifteen-a-side rugby, the extra space and fewer minutes could favor the raw athleticism of these athletes.

Men’s Dream Team

Prop - Khalil Mack

Mack is a jack of all trades defensive specimen for the Bears. Everyone knows Mack can come downhill and deliver a hit, but he also can drop and cover the pass and has decent ball skills. Khalil Mack’s incredible power could cause significant bodily harm at the ruck. 

Hooker - Julio Jones (NFL)

Matt Ryan isn’t giving Julio the ball enough. We’ve seen Perry Baker, a former wide receiver, win World Rugby 7s Player of The Year twice. Jones is bigger, faster, and stronger than Baker. Obviously Jones would lack rugby knowledge, and the passing and kicking ability Baker has developed. Perry Baker is the best aerial threat on the Sevens World Series, but imagine the All-Pro wide receiver at the restart with his 135 inch broad jump and 38.5 inch vertical. Put Julio Jones as a lineout jumper with Khalil Mack boosting overhead and I'll show you a trapeze act.

Prop - Jon Jones (UFC)

 At 6’4” 205lbs, “Bones” might be too slim for rugby. But with all those failed drug tests he could be looking for a new career soon. Hit the squat rack and call up Mike Friday. “Bones” is known for his adaptability and positional control in the octagon. Wrestlers often transfer well to rugby, and Jones also has brothers who are NFL athletes. 

Scrumhalf - Russell Westbrook (NBA)

He’s one of the most versatile basketball players of all time. His quick burst speed and passing ability would make for a perfect scrumhalf. You could pick a Kyrie Irving or a Lebron James for the facilitator of this team, but Westbrook has the combination of speed, aggression, and shoulders.

Fly half - Romelu Lukaku (Soccer)

The team is going to need a kicker and obviously any soccer player slotted into this lineup of monsters will certainly raise questions. 

Does a soccer player have the toughness to play rugby?  Lukaku stands 6’3” with 205 lbs, so if any soccer player could take the beating of this sport it’s him. The Manchester United star could give the team a points boost at the conversion and some rest by blasting kicks to touch. The kick-chase option would almost always be on considering the world-class speed and aerial ability of this team. 

Center - Todd Gurley (NFL)

Gurley’s rare combination of size and speed could benefit him in playing both offense and defense in rugby. Gurley has some of the best hands in the NFL and there are few men in pads that can bring down Gurley in space.

Wing - Usain Bolt (Track)

Definitely a defensive liability, but imagine how teams would be forced to game plan against him. Imagine the defenders the rest of his team would draw in for him to burn. Think of the kick-chase opportunities. Could Carlin Isles take the corner on Bolt? The record books says no one could.  

Women’s Dream Team

Prop - Serena Williams (Tennis)

Serena’s conversations with referees would go a whole lot smoother in rugby. She would bully opposing props at the scrum, and good luck at the point of contact for any opposition at the ruck or in open field. Serena has an imposing frame and her lateral agility would be unmatched on the sevens circuit.

Hooker - Ronda Rousey (UFC/WWE)

Rousey is freshly retired from UFC, so somebody needs to send her a rugby ball. But be sure to tell her no arm bars. Her nickname is “rowdy,” and she put women’s mixed martial arts on the map. Rousey made her money by aggressively throwing other woman around the octagon, would it transfer to a 70-meter pitch? Maybe...maybe not, but it would be fun to watch. 

Prop - Claressa Shields (Boxing)

Shields is the 2018 Female Fighter of the Year and doesn’t need rugby to be an Olympian. Her size, fitness, and hand speed would be her transferable skills. Few people could handle the pain of rugby, but Shields' pain tolerance checks the box and she’s only 23. 

Center - Sara Sigmundsdóttir (CrossFit)

If you have never heard of this CrossFit athlete go ahead and throw her name in your search bar. Sigmundsdóttir competes yearly in the CrossFit Games and consistently finishes in the top five, but she has yet to bring home the “fittest in the world” title. Maybe it is time to give rugby a go. CrossFitters have to be not only strong and fit (it's in the sport's name), but they have to be adaptable. They have to learn how to be the best at hundreds of different exercises. Sigmundsdóttir may be the most versatile competitor in the sport and she has five inches on the CrossFit champ, Tia Toomey.

Fly half - Holly Holm (UFC)

Holm single-handedly took Rousey off her throne, and essentially out of the sport. She has a powerful leg kick that she would rather land on someone’s cheek than kick a ball into touch, but it's a transferable skill, isn't it? Holm is known for chasing her opponents around the octagon, but with positional training she could chase sevens players around the pitch ... and in their nightmares. 

Scrumhalf - Maya Moore (WNBA)

Maya Moore could be an offload extraordinaire. Moore is better built for rugby than many of her lankier WNBA competitors, and her passing ability and court vision are incomparable. While basketball has significantly less contact than rugby, but slot Moore at scrumhalf and she could capitalize on her depth perception and ability to navigate tight gaps. 

Wing - Daphne Schippers (Track)

As a 100 meter specialist, Daphne Schippers, would pose a serious edge threat to opposition. Teams have to adjust to make up for that level of speed on the corner like Carlin Isles on the HSBC World Series. 

Schippers is more muscley than many of her slender-framed competitors, but contact would obviously not be advised. While teams would likely exploit her defensive weaknesses there would be few that could outrun Schippers in pursuit.