Rush is an Australian travel adventure series which features 12 contestants, divided into three teams, racing to complete tasks in various countries. The last team to complete each episode's tasks must vote to eliminate one of their members until the last individual standing wins the $100,000 grand prize and two first-class tickets for a trip around the world.[1] The series, hosted by model and former Australian Survivor contestant David Genat, premiered on
Nine on 2 July 2023.[2]
On 14 September 2023, Nine cancelled the series after one season.[3]
Format
Rush features 12 contestants divided into three teams of four. Each episode, teams are taken to an unknown starting location known as a "Drop Zone", often in the middle of a local celebration, wearing noise-cancelling headphones and blackout goggles. After removing their goggles and headphones to start the race, teams receive a cryptic clue on their
smart watches from host David Genat about his location, and must find him to receive further instructions. After finding David, teams receive a dossier containing information about the "Escape Zone", the location they must reach at the end of the leg. However, teams must also complete one or two missions along the way, and check-in at a specified accommodation to spend the night, as listed on the dossiers.[1]
Teams begin each leg with basic supplies and limited local currency to complete each leg's tasks and travel to the required destinations. The last team to reach the Escape Zone must vote off one of their team members until one contestant remains to be crowned the winner of the series. Tied votes or teams with two members placing last are decided by a game of chance called "Rush Roulette".[4]
Cast
The series features 12 contestants divided into three teams of four.[5][6]
Contestants
Age
Team
Status
Hamish Collins
29
Scarlet
Winner
CK
28
Gold
Finalist
Sofia Ligeros
26
Navy
Finalist
Adam Vassallo
22
Scarlet
Eliminated / 4th place
Tylen Wallace
21
Navy
Eliminated / 5th place
Lola Calistamon
25
Gold
Eliminated / 6th place
Fiona Ruscoe
57
Scarlet
Eliminated / 7th place
Tommy Kende
46
Navy
Withdrew / 8th place
Saxon Gallaher
32
Gold
Eliminated / 9th place
Madeline "Madi" Mercieca
33
Navy
Eliminated / 10th place
Priscilla Sleep
38
Gold
Eliminated / 11th place
Najmah Adan
26
Scarlet
Eliminated / 12th place
Results
The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.
Teams began the leg in the middle of the
Rio Carnival in
Rio de Janeiro and received a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the Christ the Redeemer statue.
Teams spent the night at the Royal Rio Palace Hotel and departed the following morning in the order they finished the first day.
In Rochina, teams had to organise a
soccer game and score one goal against locals.
In Paraty, teams had to check-in at the Pousada da Condessa hotel where they would spend the night. Teams departed the hotel the following morning in the order they checked in.
At Paraty-Mirim State Park, teams had to find a hiking trail and follow it to the Escape Zone at Paca Beach.
At the Escape Zone, Team Scarlet, which had arrived last, unanimously chose Najmah for elimination as they felt she would be a liability physically in the future, as she had struggled with the hike to the beach.
Teams began the leg at the
Süleymaniye Mosque in
Istanbul and received a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the
Basilica Cistern.
In Bursa, teams had to find a Turkish Bathhouse and undergo a traditional
hammam.
Each team began the leg at different points in the
Wadi Rum Desert and received a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the Pyramid Rock. Teams would find a map and compass in their backpacks which they had to use to navigate eight kilometres to Pyramid Rock.
After finding David Genat at Pyramid Rock, teams had to search the desert for a
Bedouin camp and convince the owner to allow them to spend the night. Teams would depart the following morning in the order they finished the first day. Teams unable to find a Bedouin camp by nightfall had to spend the night sleeping in the desert outside.
Once in Petra, teams had to climb 900 steps to the High Place of Sacrifice and photograph the circular stone
altar then proceed to the Escape Zone at
The Monastery.
Teams began the leg in the middle of the
Holi Festival in
Pushkar and received a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the
Hawa Mahal in
Jaipur and travel there by train. Teams would depart the following morning in the order they found David Genat.
For the second day, teams had to purchase Indian wedding attire for each member in Jaipur, then attend a wedding at the
Samode Palace in Samode and take a
selfie with the bride and groom. Teams would depart the following morning in the order they finished.
For the third day, teams had to travel to the
Karni Mata Temple and give an offering to the locals of the temple which, unbeknownst to them, were the
rats which were considered
sacred. Afterwards, teams could proceed to the Escape Zone at Gajner Palace in Gajner.
Additional note
CK was unable to participate in the leg with Team Gold due to personal reasons. As a result, a vote was not held when Team Gold finished the leg in last place and a game of chance called "Rush Roulette" was held. Lola and Saxon each had to choose one of three flares, with the unselected flare assigned to CK in his absence. The two contestants with the flares which lit with green smoke were safe while the contestant who had the flare which lit red was eliminated.
Teams began the leg on
Khao San Road in
Bangkok and received a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the Vertigo Rooftop of the Banyan Tree Hotel.
After finding David Genat, teams found a cryptic clue in their dossiers to the name of the hotel they had to check-in and spend the night. They had to figure out the clue gave them the name "New Siam", however there were many hotels in the locality with "New Siam" in the name and they had to find the correct one: New Siam II Hotel. Teams departed the hotel the following morning in the order they checked in.
At the start of the second day, teams had to travel to
Suvarnabhumi Airport and board a flight to
Krabi. Teams would depart the following day in the order they arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
At the start of the third day, teams had to travel to the Khamin Cave in the
Tai Romyen National Park and find a
garland hidden inside which they then had to deliver to the Escape Zone in Ao Nang.
At Ao Nang Beach, teams had to board a
long-tail boat to the escape zone on Ko Kai island, known as Chicken Island due to a distinctive rock formation which looks like the head of a chicken.
Team Scarlet got lost trying to find the Khamin Cave. Before they managed to find the cave and retrieve the garland, they were told to meet David at the Swordfish Sculpture on Ao Nang Beach as the other two teams had already finished.
At the Escape Zone, Fiona volunteered herself for elimination, leaving Hamish and Adam as the remaining two members of Team Scarlet.
Additional note
Tommy withdrew from the competition before the start of the leg due to personal reasons.
Teams began the leg in the middle of the
Saint Patrick's Day Parade in
Dublin and received a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the
Molly Malone statue. However, teams also had to obtain a
pint of
Guinness and a live
shamrock, while not yet being provided any money, to deliver to the statue.
After finding David Genat, teams had to check-in at the Hayfield Manor Hotel in
Cork where they would spend the night. Teams departed the hotel the following morning in the order they checked in.
At Blarney Castle, teams had to kiss the
Blarney Stone built into the castle
battlements. Afterwards, regardless of whether they had any money remaining, teams had to
hitchhike to the Escape Zone at the
Cliffs of Moher.
Additional note
As Team Gold came in last and only had two team members, the "Rush Roulette" was held. CK and Lola each had to choose one of two flares. The contestant with the flare which lit with green smoke, CK, was safe while the contestant who had the flare which lit red, Lola, was eliminated.
Teams began the leg in the middle of the
Tomorrowland Winter Festival at the
Alpe d'Huez ski resort in
Huez and received a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the resort's ice rink.
After finding David Genat, teams had to check-in at the Hotel d'Angleterre in
Grenoble where they would spend the first night. Teams departed the hotel the following morning in the order they checked in.
In
Lyon, teams had to buy a raw
andouillette, a French sausage containing pig intestine, and find someone to cook it for them. Once complete, teams had to find a local to eat the cooked andouillette with to complete the mission.
After the mission in Lyon, teams had to solve a cryptic clue in their dossier to figure out the name of the hotel they had to check-in at for the second night: the Mercure Hotel in
Paris. Teams departed the hotel the following morning in the order they checked in.
At the
Château de Maintenon, teams had to photograph four portraits of
Madame de Maintenon. Once complete, teams had to solve a cryptic clue in their dossier for location of the Escape Zone they had to get to: the
Pont de Bir-Hakeim in Paris.
Additional note
As Team Navy came in last and only had two team members, the "Rush Roulette" was held. Sofia and Tylen each had to choose one of two flares. The contestant with the flare which lit with green smoke, Sofia, was safe while the contestant who had the flare which lit red, Tylen, was eliminated.
Teams began the leg in the middle of an
Adumu dance by the
Maasai people at Nassaroni Village and received a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the oldest Acacia Tree of the Kimana Sanctuary, and drive themselves there using provided vehicles they would find at the nearby roadside.
After finding David Genat, teams had to purchase a
goat in Kimana and deliver it to another Nassaroni Village as a gift. After presenting the goat, teams had to take a sip of goat blood before spending the night at the village, and would depart the following morning in the order they finished.
The following morning, teams had to render one or two walls (depending on the number of team members) of a Maasai village hut with a mixture of sand, ash and
cow dung. Once approved by the Maasai people, teams had to solve a cryptic clue to the location of the Escape Zone they had to reach: the Amboseli Airstrip within the
Amboseli National Park which could only be accessed by vehicle.
Additional note
As Team Scarlet came in last and only had two team members, the "Rush Roulette" was held. Adam and Hamish each had to choose one of two flares. The contestant with the flare which lit with green smoke, Hamish, was safe while the contestant who had the flare which lit red, Adam, was eliminated.
Cape Town (AGA Black River Helistop) (Escape Zone)
Episode summary
Teams began the leg at the
Bloukrans Bridge in the
Garden Route National Park and had to complete a
bungee jump off the bridge to receive a cryptic clue to the location of host David Genat, which they had to figure out was the Redberry Farm Hedge Maze in
George. Teams who refused to jump would have to wait one hour before they were sent the clue.
After finding David Genat, teams had to check-in at the Oceans Hotel in
Mossel Bay where they would spend the night. Teams departed the hotel the following morning in the order they checked in.
At Skydive Cape Town, teams had to complete a
tandem skydive.
At the base of Table Mountain, teams had to find the Platteklip Gorge Trail and follow it to the summit of the mountain. Upon arrival, teams would receive a cryptic clue on their smart watches to their next location, which they had to figure out was the
Nelson Mandela statue at
Nobel Square.
At Nobel Square, teams would find one of three flares: one which would light with green smoke and two that would light with red smoke when lit. The first team to arrive at Nobel Square would receive the winning green flare, leaving the remaining two flares for the other teams. Teams would then be driven to the Escape Zone where the flares would be lit to reveal the winner of the season.