A world-record try?

While Dan Carter is being courted with a world record professional contract, a more modest world record has been set by an amateur player in England.

While Dan Carter is being courted with a world-record professional contract, a more modest world-record has been set by an amateur player in England.

Carter's offer is £750,000, but Sutton & Epsom RFC scrum-half Steve Munford is claiming his world record by scoring a try an astonishing 7.5 seconds from the start of a match against Richmond in London's League One.

The 19-year-old University College classics student chased down the kick-off, charged down the clearance, and pounced to score. His match was recorded – by Munford's mother – and the time officially clocked.

“The match was recorded on DVD and the timing was measured from the moment the referee blew the whistle to start the match to the moment he blew the whistle to award the try,” said Corinne Munford.

“We have filled in the forms provided to us by Guinness World Records and are waiting to hear their adjudication.”

The Guinness book of world records has the fastest-ever try as Elton Flatley's effort against Romania in Brisbane 2003 – after 18 seconds.

That has been beaten – not least by Leeds' Lee Blackett the week after Munford's effort – he managed a try in 8.28 seconds in a Guinness Premiership match.

“We had been beaten heavily by Richmond in a league match the previous weekend,” said Munford.

“So at the start of the semi-final I thought 'I really want to get involved' and it was head-down, go for it.

“Normally I'd be hanging back for any knock-downs from our second rows and flankers chasing the kick-off.

“But this time I chased the ball all the way through, it seemed to take their full-back so long to kick it, and when I got close I thought he must hit it into my body.

“When I scored I couldn't believe it. Most of my team were on the halfway line, and there wasn't much reaction from the crowd because half of them hadn't arrived yet!”

The time for the fastest try in international rugby is believed to be 10 seconds, held jointly by Scotland centre John Leslie against Wales on February 6, 1999 and Bart Price for England against Wales on January 20, 1923.

“It would be fantastic to get in the record books,” continued Munford.

“I tuned into the TV coverage at half-time of the Leeds match when Lee Blackett scored his try and I was watching the replays. I guess I was just hoping it took longer than mine.”