WARRINGTON’S out of favour wing man Kevin Penny is the bookies favourite to be crowned Rugby League’s fastest man at this year’s Carnegie Floodlit Nines tournament.
The young winger, currently on loan at Widnes, will be lining up in the competition at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium showpiece floodlit nines event on Wednesday, August 26, where the Wolves have been drawn against hosts Leeds Rhinos.
Penny (pictured) will be lining up against various stars including Leeds Rhinos’ Scott Donald, Castleford Tiger’s James Ford and Hull KR’s Peter Fox in a bid to be crowned the quickest player in rugby league.
The challenge was devised by the Carnegie Nines organisers who have partnered with tournament sponsors Carnegie, Northern Rail and Totesport, to bring this exciting event to build on the burgeoning reputation of the Headingley floodlit event.
Carnegie Floodlit Nines tournament organiser Lionel Hurst said: “Our great sport is graced by many of the world’s finest athletes. Fans will be able to see a large selection of them in action on the revered Headingley turf on Carnegie Floodlit nines night, what a great event is in prospect!”
The event will take place directly before the final of the Carnegie Nines tournament, which last year was won by Huddersfield Giants.
The competitors will line up in full playing kit and sprint 90m along the famous Headingley turf without a ball.
Totesport has compiled odds on all of the confirmed competitors for the event, using footage of engage super league games and their extensive knowledge of the sport.
The current Totesport odds for the ‘Rugby League’s fastest man’
Kevin Penny 2/1 Warrington Wolves
Scott Donald 4/1 Leeds Rhinos
Dave Halley 9/2 Bradford Bulls & Wales
Peter Fox 5/1 Hull KR & England
Roy Calvert 6/1 Duhaney Park Sharks & Jamaica
Paul Ballard 8/1 Celtic Crusaders
Luke George 8/1 Wakefield Wildcats
Amos Roberts 12/1 Wigan Warriors
James Ford 12/1 Castleford Tigers
Tangi Ropati tbc Sheffield Eagles & Samoa
Former England number nine, Mick Morgan made the draw for the 2009 Carnegie Floodlit Nines and hosts Leeds Rhinos, have been paired against fellow engage Super League side Warrington Wolves, whilst Hull KR will line up against Wakefield Wildcats.
Cumbria RL, Leeds Met Carnegie and invitational side Jamaica will play in a preliminary group stage for the right to face Hull FC.
The Army RL, the Cheltenham nines winners, the Royal Navy and the winners of the Northern Rail nines competition will also battle it out for the right to play last year’s tournament winners Huddersfield Giants.
The 2009 Carnegie Floodlit Nines will host 12 senior teams including six engage Super League clubs. Prior to the showpiece finals there will be a Girls rugby league county game which last year saw a keenly contested game between Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The tournament also revives the tradition of the Headingley 7s, which was staged at Headingley Carnegie Stadium between 1965 and 1978, and provided high-energy league action for fans.
The draw in full:
Qualifying Group A: Jamaica, Cumbria RL, Leeds Met Carnegie
Qualifying Group B: Army RL, Royal Navy, Northern Rail nines winners
Round 2
Hull FC v Group A winners
Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos
Hull KR v Wakefield Wildcats
Huddersfield Giants v Group B winners
