When defeat really hurts

1:41pm Friday 31st October 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

Here’s a novel, new way of warming up for a rugby match!

Keighley Cougars’ Neil Lowe is currently Down Under at the World Cup, where he and his Scotland team-mates have been passing spare time playing table tennis. With a difference.

The Bravehearts – or should that be Bravebacks? – have invented a variation on the game called ‘sting pong’.

Basically, the loser of a match lifts up his shirt and stands with their back facing the winner who hits the ball at blistering speed onto their bare, naked skin. Nice!

Immediately, a red mark appears, along with a searing, intense pain which is quickly accompanied by the cracking sound of laughter. From the onlookers anyway.

Apparently, bulky second-row Lowe is a bit nimble around the table, despite his sizeable frame, and one of the top players in the squad.

You wouldn’t have guessed it though given the number of red hits now appearing on his back, with team-mate Iain Morrison intently lining up another stinger (pictured).

Anyway, if Lowe is injured with a back strain in the weeks ahead you know what the real deal is.