Former England rugby star Sam Burgess has shared an incredible behind-the-scenes story from the Australian version of SAS: Who Dares Wins. The dual-code player, known for his rugby prowess, found himself in the thick of a rather thrilling adventure during the show’s intense challenges in 2021.
While competing on SAS Australia, Sam was tasked with undergoing a condensed version of the UK Special Forces selection course. As you’d expect, the experience was gruelling—think sleep deprivation, freezing temperatures, and relentless physical demands. But things took an unexpected turn on day 12, when just a handful of contestants remained.
On a bus ride after a tough challenge, Sam decided to take matters into his own hands. Encouraged by the show’s ethos of escaping at any given chance, Sam channelled his inner action hero. Believing he was in a wartime scenario, he snapped his restraints, charged the front of the bus, and ‘choked out’ the driver to bring the vehicle to a halt.
Joined by fellow contestant John Steffensen, Sam commandeered the mini-bus in an adrenaline-fueled bid for freedom. With the promise of newfound liberation, he considered hitting the nearest KFC, despite not having any cash on hand!
However, it wasn’t long before reality set back in—thanks to Australian athlete Jana Pittman, who managed to talk him down. Yet, his adventures weren’t over. The show’s creators eventually caught up with the rogue group, leading to another intense 12 hours of filming. Sadly for viewers, none of this exciting footage made it to air due to insurance concerns. But fret not, as Sam cheekily hinted that this escapade is considered one of the best escape stories ever within the show!
Who knew reality TV could get this intense? What would you have done in Sam’s shoes? Let us know in the comments!