Rugby Players Recast As The Walking Dead Characters

Empowered, intelligent and able to take , the fly-half and Carol put the good of the team ahead of the individual no matter what. Carol transitioned from an introverted, defenseless survivor to one the shows most powerful characters by proactively establishing her independence.

From the brash to the sociopathic, to the ones who will certainly die in the next scene, there's been no shortage of personalities gracing this zombified apocalypse.

I know of no other arena with its fair share of outlandish, and occasionally deranged, personas as the wide world of rugby.

In celebration of the dramatis personae that we've come to love and hate in both The Walking Dead and rugby, here are the best examples of role recasting involving the two dramas.

Why it works: The glue that held Leicester Tigers together over the course of 17 extremely successful seasons, Martin Johnson won five league titles with Tigers and the club was never able to genuinely replace his forward presence. Johnson’s drive, commitment and effort were never questioned.

Rick Grimes has been a constant for our group of survivors over seven seasons. He’s the undisputed leader of the group and he’s equally ruthless and respected. While retaining some form of humanity and honour, Rick has been brutal with regards to dispatching Shane, the Governor and Gareth.

Why it works: Two individuals that let their skills do the talking, Daryl and Farrell are the best on the planet at what they do. Daryl at surviving the zombie apocalypse, Messi at kicking rugby goals. If you had to build a team in either department, these would be the respective first picks.

Why it works: From a young and tender age, Barrett and Carl Grimes were introduced to the realities of their worlds. Barrett was a precociously talented attacker who drew the ire of spectators and defenders. Carl grew up surrounded by death and despair, very much appearing like he'd lost his mind somewhere along the way.

However, both Barrett and Carl have matured before our very eyes. The All Blacks fly-half is now one of the best players in the world while Carl can seriously hold his own.

Scarratt was never known as one of the quickest or most technically gifted players, but her intelligence, effectiveness and dedication allowed her to accumulate over seventy caps for England.

Why it works: Negan is a brilliant strategist and a strong, effective leader, having kept hundreds of people alive and is worshipped by many and feared by others. McCaw similarly was loved by the All Blacks and feared by the rest of the world, leading the All Blacks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles. Both their teams have handed out some brutal beatings in their time.