Luke Vescio hits the deck after pulling a hamstring in a mascot race. Photo: Karen Watson.

by Brendan Bradford –

Luke Vescio took a different route to cult figure status than Nick Cummins did. While Cummins rose to fame with his humorous one-liners and fondness for the Honey Badger, Vescio did it by wearing a rat costume, pulling his hammy and baring his ass to the world.

The 20-year-old Warringah Rat became an online viral sensation when a video emerged of the misfortunate injury he picked up in a mascot race at halftime of the North Harbour Rays vs NSW Country Eagles Round 3 NRC match at Brookvale Oval.

Injured Vescio is assisted from the field. Photo: Karen Watson.

The video shows Vescio, wearing a Rat costume, leading the race through the halfway mark before he pulled up lame and his pants fell down as he hit the deck on halfway. The vision did the rounds in the Australian media and we’re told it even popped up in Argentine rugby circles.

When Rugby News tracked him down this week, it became clear that Vescio is no stranger to bad luck.

“Mate I’m spittin’ chips because I’ve just left my wallet on the bus, so I’m all over the place – no good,” he said as he answered the phone.

The unlucky rat has a bit of the Honey Badger’s flair for the witty one-liner about him, too.

“The hammy, she’s about as stable as my ex-girlfriend’s emotions but she’s getting there and I’ll be right for next week. I’ve got big things to do.”

The former Parramatta Eels U-20s player and gun Warringah back feels he has a point to prove after being thrown in the deep end by fellow Rat, Jamie Horton.

“I wasn’t going to go to the game because it was rainy and a bit cold, but my mate was like ‘come on, come on’ and when I eventually turned up he said we needed someone to wear the rat suit,” says Vescio.

“He said it’d just be taking a few photos with the kids, so I finally agreed to it. Then as soon as halftime hit and I was in the rat suit he said I had to go out on the field because I was in a foot race. It went downhill from there.”

“I was pretty angry on the starting line but at the sound of the gun I leapt out of the gate like a hunted stag. It was going alright – the first leg I was like a gazelle on the savannah – I was flying, I was really moving quick, but then I hit the line and turned and the first couple of steps was alright but then, bang, I was gone after that.”

Vescio was a handy player in his first season with Warringah this year. Photo: Karen Watson

Although the injury cost him the race and he flashed a pair of red Bonds to the crowd, Vescio says his last minute prerace plan had already gone up in smoke.

“Myself and the other boys in the race were going to target Tah Man, we had our shovels and we were really gonna have a dig at him, but he forgot his uniform so he couldn’t race – no good,” he said.

“He’s got big shoes to fill next time and I’ve got big things to do because I’ve been copping it a bit but it’s all good, it’s good to get the Vescio name out there.

“Next time I’ll get to warm up or maybe I’ll have a hammy rub and I’ll be happy.”

Bring on race two.