THE RECENT INDISCRETIONS of James O’Connor and Mike Phillips have got us thinking about a team of ultimate rugby bad boys.
After scanning the rap sheets of rugby’s most notorious players, we compiled this starting line-up. Let us know what you think and who you would add/omit.
1. Matt Stevens
Banned for cocaine but his rugby redemption included a call-up to the Lions squad in the summer. An experienced tighthead but can hold his own at loose.
2. Andrew Hore
The All Black was convicted of shooting a fur seal in 2005. One of the best hookers in modern rugby.
3. Davide Attoub
Fond of an eye-gouge is our David. The French prop was given 70 week ban for poking round Stephen Ferris’ socket.
4. Willie Anderson
A ‘boys on tour’ moment as the lock [on club duty with Penguins] was arrested for stealing an Argentinean flag in 1978.
5. Justin Harrison
Another Ulster legend in the second row. Harrison was suspended for eight months for cocaine use in 2009.
6. Trevor Brennan
Another Ulster connection but this one was between the flanker’s fist and a fan’s face. A lengthy ban ensued for the Irish international, who was playing for Toulouse at the time.
7. Jerry Collins (captain)An All Blacks legend, Collins has had a couple of run-ins with the law. He was arrested in Japan for carrying a 17cm cooking knife around a department store back in March. A few months later, back in New Zealand, and the former Ospreys flanker was accused of throwing a kebab at Kiwi police.
8. Andy Powell
The recently retired Wales and Lions forward was once pulled over by police after driving a golf cart the wrong way up a motorway.
9. Mike Phillips
The Welsh scrumhalf, a regular tormentor of the Irish team, is on the verge of the sack at Bayonne after reportedly turning up drunk for training. He also asked a married TV presenter on a date through the classy medium of Twitter.
10. Danny Cipriani
The outhalf has a laundry list of incidents in his colourful career. The latest was a night of Aussie hijinks that included stealing a bottle of vodka while he was with Melbourne Rebels. In good form, at present, with Sale.
11. Wendell Sailor
The Australian rugby league convert was hauled over the coals for a nightclub fracas in Cape Town. He was also suspended for two years over cocaine use, in 2006.
12. Gavin Henson
Last seen getting knocked out on CCTV by Bath teammate Carl Fearns.
13. Mike Tindall
Throwing a dwarf through a Queenstown bar while on World Cup duty with England in 2011. Was also visited by wife Zara Phillips after grainy CCTV footage caught him taking too much of an interest in a lady who was not Zara Phillips.
14. Doug Howlett
Doug apologised for his 2007 “tomfoolery” for going buck mad after the All Blacks’ World Cup elimination in France. Several cars were damaged. Drink was involved, Howlett admitted.
YouTube credit: sarugby
15. James O’Connor
The Australian was pictured in Burger King [Hungry Jacks] just before 3am on the week of a massive Test against the British & Irish Lions.
Nice Guy XV
We reckon this posse, captained by Brian O’Driscoll, would be suitable white knights to defeat the bad boys named above.
1. Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, 2. Ronnie Dawson, 3. John Hayes; 4. Johann Muller, 5. Devin Toner; 6. George Smith, 7. David Pocock, 8. Martin Corry; 9. Peter Stringer, 10. Stephen Larkham; 11. Andrew Trimble, 12. Jonny Wilkinson, 13. Brian O’Driscoll, 14. John Kirwan; 15. Jason Robinson.
