Peter Crouch and Joe Cole try their hands at rugby with HILARIOUS results… as they’re put through their paces by England World Cup winner Ben Kay

In their prime, it’s fair to say Joe Cole and Peter Crouch were both some of football’s most prodigious and underrated talents at the same time.

Both have won major honours across their respective careers and have deservedly earned their place in English football folklore.

Since retiring from the sport as professional players, however, Crouch and Cole have come together to form a new partnership within TNT’s broadcasting team.

And now, they’re turning their hands to a new sport entirely – a spot of rugby – with hilarious results.

Crouch and Cole joined English rugby legend, Ben Kay, at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium as a part of their Autumn Nations Series promotion for TNT, Crouch vs Cole: Rugby.

Joe Cole (left) and Peter Crouch (right) travelled to Saracens’ StoneX ground to give rugby a go

Hilarity ensues as the former footballers contest a rugby line-out

Rugby World Cup winner Ben Kay (pictured) took Crouch and Cole through their paces

The episode ends in argy-bargy as the pair engage in something of a playground ruck

Kay, a rugby world cup winner who spent his career at Leicester Tigers, put the pair through their paces in front of cameras at the StoneX Stadium.

getting them to try everything from a penalty conversion, contesting a line-out, tackling drills and even a bit of argy-bargy with each other.

In a preview of their show, Crouch opens proceedings by asking Kay who he thinks will be better at rugby out of the two.

‘I think you both have different skillsets,’ Kay answers diplomatically, before telling Crouch he thinks he might win the line-out. 

‘I’ll be able to see the A1 from here!’ the former Liverpool and Pompey striker responds with a laugh.

One scene shows Cole step up to convert a place kick from considerable distance with aplomb. ‘You can’t get any better than that, mate,’ Kay says approvingly.

Hilarity ensues as Crouch tries to catch a ball kicked high into the air. Reflexes may have taken over and he thought about taking it with his feet – instead it bounces off the floor and hits him in the face.

Perhaps the funniest scene is watching Joe Cole shriek in terror as he gets hoisted into the air to catch a ball from a line-out, before actually contesting one with Crouch – and winning.

The popular footballers are now a part of TNT Sports 

All 21 matches of the Autumn Nations Series will be broadcast live on TNT Sports

The action ends with the two players and former England team-mates trying to wrestle one another to ground, as if they were on the school playground.

‘I would’ve loved to have done this at school,’ Cole says to Crouch, as the two head for the tunnel. 

All 21 matches of the Autumn Nations Series will be broadcast live on TNT Sports. The full episode of Crouch vs Cole: Rugby is available to watch on discovery+ from midday today.