Let’s face it, as a kid growing up who hasn’t dreamt of slipping on their nations sporting colours at one time or another?
Whether as a footballer, rugby player or cricketer, we’ve all dreamed of scoring the match winning try, kicking a screamer from the sideline or taking a vital wicket to seal victory for our country.
Sadly, very few of us will ever realise those dreams.
But in somewhat of a rare feat, a number of the finest rugby players at this year’s Rugby World Cup were also leading sportsmen in a wide range of contrasting sports.
In a league of their own
Australian speedsters Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri all represented Australia in rugby league before turning their hand to rugby union.
Both Rogers and Sailor will attempt to add another World Cup to their trophy cabinet after starring for Australia in the rugby league World Cup final against New Zealand in 2000.
Rogers, the son of former Australian rugby league international Steve Rogers, kicked six goals from seven attempts in the final, while Sailor put in a man of the match performance with three tries.
England full back Jason Robinson also had an outstanding rugby league career for Wigan and Great Britain before turning his exceptional talents to rugby union.
Another gifted former Great Britain rugby league international, Iestyn Harris, signed from rugby league in 2001 on a £1.5 million transfer deal, will ply his trade for Wales in the Rugby World Cup.
Harris made an immediate impact in his new code, amassing 40 points in his first three matches.
Two Cups, one year
The year 2003 will be one to remember for Namibia’s centre Rudi van Vuuren.
Van Vuuren, who made his international rugby debut for Namibia in 1997 against Zimbabwe, played five games for Namibia during cricket’s World Cup earlier this year.
The right hand batsmen and fast medium bowler will complete a rare double when he runs out for Namibia in the Rugby World Cup.
Mr Muscle
Japan’s flying wing Daisuke Ohata won Japan’s coveted title of ‘No.1 Sports Player’ on one of the country’s most popular TV programmes ‘Kin-niku Banzuke’ (‘Muscle Power’) in 2001.
Pitting his skills against athletes from various different sports, including baseball, soccer, athletics and boxing, Ohata came out on top in a range of tests comparing speed, power and skill.
Another of Japan’s rising stars, Ryo Yamamura, at 105 kilos and 1.85 metres tall, turned his back on a promising career as a Sumo wrestler to pursue rugby.
Where Eagles Dare
USA Eagles flanker Dave Hodges was a talented outside linebacker in American Football (Gridiron) while at Occidental College of California, and was a three time all league outside linebacker and a 1989 Division III All American.
His gigantic back row partner Dan Lyle was a 1992 collegiate All American in gridiron, earning a trial with the National Football League's Washington Redskins.
Exponents of round ball games
Georgia, making their Rugby World Cup debut in 2003, have called on former stars of the round ball game to boost their Cup chances.
Flanker Giorgi Labadze is a former soccer goalkeeper, while wing Makho Urjukashvili was a child prodigy in soccer.
Scotland lock Scott Murray played international basketball for his country before switching to rugby. His basketball skills will come to the fore in both the lineout and ball handling.
It may be that only a select few ever get to turn their dreams into reality, but in RWC 2003 these dual sports stars from around the globe are living out their childhood fantasies.
And perhaps a few of our own as well.