"Fury" - Ex-England rugby player named as first Gladiators for new series

The show, which was originally broadcast from 1992 to 2000, will feature a new line-up of gladiators, including Jodie Ounsley as Fury and Zack George as Steel.

Fury, a former England Women’s rugby sevens player, was given her name due to her power and passion for competition. Her father was a contender on the original show in 2008, and she has been training to outdo him ever since, according to the BBC.

Fury currently plays professional rugby for the Exeter Chiefs and has an impressive track record, including being the British champion at Brazilian jiu-jitsu and winning the World Coal Carrying championship five times. She was also named Deaf Sports Personality of The Year in 2020.

Zack George, who won the title of the UK’s Fittest Man in 2020, will go under the name Steel. The pair are the first “superhumans” set to pick up their pugil sticks and compete in the gameshow coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Speaking about her role, Fury said: “Watching Gladiators growing up I was always in awe of their strength and power, and now I am one. I hope contenders are ready to feel the Fury.”

The revival of Gladiators is highly anticipated, with many fans excited to see the new gladiators in action. The show has always been known for its high-energy challenges and impressive displays of strength, and the new series promises to deliver on this front.

Host Bradley Walsh expressed his excitement about the show's return, saying: “What’s wonderful about Gladiators is it’s a show the whole family can enjoy. It’s action-packed, it’s exciting, it’s fun, it’s competitive. I can’t wait to get started.”

The new series of Gladiators will be available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and promises to be a must-watch for anyone who loves thrilling sports entertainment

One fan wrote: "He had a few good years between 2011-2013 and then he has died down. Hasn't looked good as the commentary teams make him out to be."

Another commented: "George bloody North!"

A third said: "I think it's important to separate the player he was back in 2013, with the player he became once injury and loss of form hit. Definitely overrated though, but I think that's the media's fault."

One fan wrote: "Lazy player with a terrible workrate, decent positioning at times that sees him finish off the good work of other players and get all the undeserved credit. Poor tackler too."

A second commented: ”That man lived off his ‘solo’ try against Australia and managed to get in the England team every time. He couldn’t tackle a crossword! Lacks creativity and only works running a line of a short pass from number ten. Overrated definitely!”

"Maybe he got so many caps as there's been such a paucity of Welsh second rows. Maybe."

"At this point he only gets chosen because Wales Online will go nuclear and blow up Cardiff if he doesn't"

"I really really really don't understand why he is rated so highly"

"H'es been a great player. But he should have been nowhere near the starting jersey for the Lions in my opinion."

One fan argue back, saying: "Maybe he’s got 12 lions caps in a row, won numerous 6N championships, been nominated for world player of the year twice 4 years apart, and is the record cap holder in history because he is one of the greatest locks of all time...maybe.

"If there’s one player in world rugby who has caused more people to have egg on their faces after writing him off and downplaying his rugby ability, it’s AWJ."

"Going to be controversial but Sergio Parisse. Sure he had fantastic skills but he was a show pony and not a work horse and people often overlooked this. He looked fantastic for Italy but that was because he was allowed to do all the flashy stuff but was mediocre in other areas."

"I think Parisse got a lot of credit just for being a leader and a quality player in a poor Italy side and was never rated by anyone as anywhere near world class"

"Consistently made world xv teams on scant evidence."

"Never has a cliche ever fit a player more than overrated show pony for Sergio Parisse"

"Honestly.... by the end of his career Parisse."

"The French forward is a player who jumps to mind."

"His appearance was half his reputation. Whenever he was given the appropriate attention he folded."

"Talented athlete who put in the odd big tackle but when push came to shove he always seemed to wilt away from the physical side of the game."

"Maybe not any more but I think Chabal was always vastly overrated. He did the odd massive hit and good carry but overall his impact on most games was pretty average for a man with so much hype."

"Good 6, terrible 8, even worse lock."