Rugby nice guys

[Hugo]

Ronseal. We've all met or heard horror stories of rugby players who are pricks so here's some positivity.

Every interview of a rugby player I've ever heard talking about Kev Mealamu says he is the nicest guy ever. I think it was Nick Evans who said that when he was a roommate of Kev he asked him if could turn the TV on as of the was a kid asking permission from his parents rather than an AB legend. Evans was thinking "You're Keven Mealamu, you can do what you want".

[Tichtheid]

Doddie Weir - a fun loving guy who lit up any room, always getting up to mischief of some sort. When he got over the shock of his diagnosis he immediately set about dedicating his remaining time to finding a cure for those who would come after him.

Jerry Collins, his Nice Guy personality is legendary, in sharp contrast to this monster on the rugby field who looked very like him.

[Hugo]

Doddie Weir - a fun loving guy who lit up any room, always getting up to mischief of some sort. When he got over the shock of his diagnosis he immediately set about dedicating his remaining time to finding a cure for those who would come after him.

Jerry Collins, his Nice Guy personality is legendary, in sharp contrast to this monster on the rugby field who looked very like him.

Great shouts. A pair of lovely blokes who were down to earth.

Speaking of Doddie, you jogged my memory - Scotland were based at my rugby club in the week leading up to the Calcutta Cup in 97, it was a stones throw from my school so we went at lunchtime to watch them train.

Got the autographs of, if I recall correctly Gary Armstrong, Townsend, Kenny Logan and a fourth player who I don't honestly remember. They were all good guys, very down to earth and approachable.

[Calculon]

Former British & Irish Lions prop Jason Leonard has recounted how he came to give a young John Smit his Lions kit during their tour of South Africa in 1997.



During the conversation, Smit – who would lead the Springboks to a series victory over the Lions in 2009 – recalled how he got his first taste of playing against the Lions when he came off the bench for the Sharks during the 1997 tour.

As the story goes, Smit scrummed against Dai Young when he came on to the field and after the game, Young wanted to swap shirts with Smit, but Smit was eager to hold on to his Sharks jersey as it was one of his first senior appearances for the franchise.

‘It was a good game. I remember coming off the bench. We won the game and were sitting in the change room afterwards having a couple of beers,’ Leonard told Smit. ‘Dai is a great guy, I’ve got a lot of time for him. Dai went on a Lions tour in ‘89 and then he went professional in rugby league and missed the tour in ‘93 to New Zealand, but he got another opportunity in ‘97 to South Africa.

‘I saw Dai go off. In those days, you’ve got your shirt, shorts, socks, maybe a tracksuit top and bottom. You want to go and swap with as many people as possible if you can get your hands on stuff. In those days, it was just turning professional in that aspect. So it was still very much an amateur tour in that aspect. It was more about what you could beg, borrow and steal in a way.

‘So, obviously, Dai went into your change room to try and get your kit. He came back in and was a bit miffed, to be honest. He came back in with his own kit, he didn’t offload it to you or any of the other boys. I asked him what’s the problem. He said the young kid didn’t want to swap shirts. I said, “You do know he is a baby? This is literally his first start in his representative career, of course he isn’t going to swap. What do you care, Dai? You’ve got Lions kit coming out of your ears. You should be handing it out, in that aspect.” It was in his head that you have to swap.

‘So I just picked up my gear and walked next door, tapped on the door and Ian MacIntosh opened the door. He is a lovely guy, but his eyes were going in different directions. He asked what the matter was. I asked to speak to the young kid. I do remember him barking your name and I have to say, that would have made me jump to attention as well. I just heard him shouting “Smitty! Smitty! Come here!” You came to the door and you saw me with the kit and you were very polite. I did laugh because you actually called me Mr Leonard. My father is always called Mr Leonard, not me. You said, “Sorry, Mr Leonard, but I can’t swap shirts because it is my first season playing.” Obviously you were a local boy as well, so it meant a lot to you. I said, “No, you have it wrong. I’ve not come here to swap. I’ve come here to give you my kit because you are obviously a very talented young player and you are going to be around for years. So, please, take this. I don’t want any of your kit. You played a great game, so here you go.’

‘That’s what rugby is all about,’ Leonard added. ‘That’s what touring is all about. We made a friendship about that and a few years later, you came a presented your shirt to me at Twickenham in 2001. I’ve still got that somewhere and have a lot of pride in that shirt. It’s a nice story, but it’s also what our game is all about.’

[Chilli2]

I met Richard Lowe in Bloemfontein in 1995 RWC, He was very friendly and pretty easy to get along with.

Garin Jenkins was also a really nice guy. We scrummed against Wales before their Test against Japan. He almost killed me, and then gave me his training jersey.

[Slick]

I guess most rugby players, amateur or pro, are cut from the same cloth and like to uphold rugby values.

I've only ever met a handful of proper pricks - Guscott, Leigh Davies. Can't think of any more off hand, but will have a think.

Top blokes who might surprise you, Brian Moore, Stuart Barnes,

[Yeeb]

I guess most rugby players, amateur or pro, are cut from the same cloth and like to uphold rugby values.

I've only ever met a handful of proper pricks - Guscott, Leigh Davies. Can't think of any more off hand, but will have a think.

Top blokes who might surprise you, Brian Moore, Stuart Barnes,

Second the guscott vote, was having a post lions 09 meal alongside CMM and his bro’s, Guscott was at next table and exuded extreme tosspot vibes. Heard to say more than once how he was better than the current centres in world rugby. Seemed pretty pissed but you can only attribute behaviour so far on that as an excuse.

[Thor Sedan]

I guess most rugby players, amateur or pro, are cut from the same cloth and like to uphold rugby values.

I've only ever met a handful of proper pricks - Guscott, Leigh Davies. Can't think of any more off hand, but will have a think.

Top blokes who might surprise you, Brian Moore, Stuart Barnes,

I had the displeasure of meeting my boyhood hero - Gavin Hastings. What a tiresome, droning, self important bellend. So disappointing - as well as the aggressive, seemingly permanently drunk John Jefferies. Matthew Ridge didn't seem interested in engaging with anyone when he was doing the rounds in Palmerston North (although Marc Ellis was a delight).

Best I've met personally - Christian Cullen was VERY down to earth (played a drinking game on N64 Mario carts with him for a couple of hours at an office party). John Ashworth was a fantastic story teller and his personal museum at Junction Winery in Central Hawkes Bay is well worth a visit (and the wine is nice). George Gregan was a speaker at a team building weekend I attended. Always thought he was a little s**t - but shared a beer with him - absolute gem of a human being.

A friend of mine met Chris Ashton (who I always though was a bit of a one) but apparently a really nice guy and very funny.

I genuinely think that most players are pretty decent as the rugby environment encourages that type of behavior. I have met plenty of absolute muppets from the football/soccer side of things - just a different mindset I guess.

[Lobby]

Doddie Weir - a fun loving guy who lit up any room, always getting up to mischief of some sort. When he got over the shock of his diagnosis he immediately set about dedicating his remaining time to finding a cure for those who would come after him.

Jerry Collins, his Nice Guy personality is legendary, in sharp contrast to this monster on the rugby field who looked very like him.

In 2007 when Jerry Collins was visiting friends/family in Barnstable he was invited to visit the local rugby club. He turned up and asked if he could have a game. He was told he couldn't play for Barnstable's 1st team as he wasn't registered, so he instead joined Barnstable's seconds to play Newton Abbott the following day, much to everyone's joy and surprise.



A month later, when he played for the Barbarians against South Africa at Twickenham, he took the field wearing Barnstable's red socks.

[Uncle fester]

Pretty standard that the guys who are complete poes on the pitch are pretty sound off it.

Not heard great stuff about Keith Wood.

Malcolm O'Kelly used to (and may still do) have this "game" where he'd go up to a random guy in a pub and rip the front pocket off their shirt. Did it to a friend's father and he wasn't having it so that's where Mal's posse came in to make sure he didn't face consequences.

Met a load of Toulouse players in Trevor's bar around 2009-2010-ish. Servat and Ibanez (who was there for reasons unknown) are absolutely sound guys.

[Slick]

I guess most rugby players, amateur or pro, are cut from the same cloth and like to uphold rugby values.

I've only ever met a handful of proper pricks - Guscott, Leigh Davies. Can't think of any more off hand, but will have a think.

Top blokes who might surprise you, Brian Moore, Stuart Barnes,

I had the displeasure of meeting my boyhood hero - Gavin Hastings. What a tiresome, droning, self important bellend. So disappointing - as well as the aggressive, seemingly permanently drunk John Jefferies. Matthew Ridge didn't seem interested in engaging with anyone when he was doing the rounds in Palmerston North (although Marc Ellis was a delight).

Best I've met personally - Christian Cullen was VERY down to earth (played a drinking game on N64 Mario carts with him for a couple of hours at an office party). John Ashworth was a fantastic story teller and his personal museum at Junction Winery in Central Hawkes Bay is well worth a visit (and the wine is nice). George Gregan was a speaker at a team building weekend I attended. Always thought he was a little s**t - but shared a beer with him - absolute gem of a human being.

A friend of mine met Chris Ashton (who I always though was a bit of a one) but apparently a really nice guy and very funny.

I genuinely think that most players are pretty decent as the rugby environment encourages that type of behavior. I have met plenty of absolute muppets from the football/soccer side of things - just a different mindset I guess.

Shame about Gav, I know him reasonably well and always found him great

[Biffer]

In terms of current players, Pierre Schoemann always comes across as a lovely fella.

[Niegs]

I guess most rugby players, amateur or pro, are cut from the same cloth and like to uphold rugby values.

I've only ever met a handful of proper pricks - Guscott, Leigh Davies. Can't think of any more off hand, but will have a think.

Top blokes who might surprise you, Brian Moore, Stuart Barnes,

I had the displeasure of meeting my boyhood hero - Gavin Hastings. What a tiresome, droning, self important bellend. So disappointing - as well as the aggressive, seemingly permanently drunk John Jefferies. Matthew Ridge didn't seem interested in engaging with anyone when he was doing the rounds in Palmerston North (although Marc Ellis was a delight).

Best I've met personally - Christian Cullen was VERY down to earth (played a drinking game on N64 Mario carts with him for a couple of hours at an office party). John Ashworth was a fantastic story teller and his personal museum at Junction Winery in Central Hawkes Bay is well worth a visit (and the wine is nice). George Gregan was a speaker at a team building weekend I attended. Always thought he was a little s**t - but shared a beer with him - absolute gem of a human being.

A friend of mine met Chris Ashton (who I always though was a bit of a one) but apparently a really nice guy and very funny.

I genuinely think that most players are pretty decent as the rugby environment encourages that type of behavior. I have met plenty of absolute muppets from the football/soccer side of things - just a different mindset I guess.

Makes me wonder if the same percentage is true among the lads who never knew the amateur era? Good chance it is, esp as they’d have come through a school or junior club. But wouldn’t surprise me, sadly, if a few more are up themselves if they’ve been fully immersed as a ‘pro’ since teenage years. :(

[Punter15]

This may surprise some, but Josh Lewsey is an absolute gem.

[Poshprop]

This may surprise some, but Josh Lewsey is an absolute gem.

I bumped into Josh Lewsey and a couple of his mates late one night in Chippy Alley, Cardiff about 10 years ago. I was very well oiled and I have no idea what I said to him but he didn't laugh but his three mates were in absolute hysterics. And for the sole reason of him not lamping me, I agree he is an absolute gem.

Met a few over the years and usually all really good. Allan Bateman was great and Eddie Butler would nick all your fags

[Slick]

This may surprise some, but Josh Lewsey is an absolute gem.

I've known Josh since we were kids and played a long time with his brother, fantastic family all round.

[SaintK]

I had the displeasure of meeting my boyhood hero - Gavin Hastings. What a tiresome, droning, self important bellend. So disappointing -

I had the displeasure of meeting him twice at corporate events a long time ago Very much the "don't you know who I am" sort!
Obviously matured with age as he was on fine form at a charity lunch in February He was even self-deprecating to the chap who asked him about the missed penalty from in front of the posts in the 1991 RWC match agaainst England. Though he did call him a bastard

[Biffer]

I had the displeasure of meeting my boyhood hero - Gavin Hastings. What a tiresome, droning, self important bellend. So disappointing -

I had the displeasure of meeting him twice at corporate events a long time ago Very much the "don't you know who I am" sort!
Obviously matured with age as he was on fine form at a charity lunch in February He was even self-deprecating to the chap who asked him about the missed penalty from in front of the posts in the 1991 RWC match agaainst England. Though he did call him a bastard

I've heard this about him before but my only encounter with him was when we were sitting outside the Sun Inn in Richmond before the Challenge Cup Final that Edinburgh played in. He stopped to talk to us, just a quick chat and then wandered off as he was meeting someone. Perfectly pleasant on that occasion.

[Thor Sedan]

I had the displeasure of meeting my boyhood hero - Gavin Hastings. What a tiresome, droning, self important bellend. So disappointing -

I had the displeasure of meeting him twice at corporate events a long time ago Very much the "don't you know who I am" sort!
Obviously matured with age as he was on fine form at a charity lunch in February He was even self-deprecating to the chap who asked him about the missed penalty from in front of the posts in the 1991 RWC match agaainst England. Though he did call him a bastard

Ah interesting. I meet him in 2000. It could have just been that he wasn't on form that day. But I was working a bar in a golf course and he was camped at one end holding court. I listened to my 'hero' drone on about rubbish for over 2 hours - everything was about him. To make matters worse - he was pretty rude and dismissive of me and the other bar staffer (although I'm a Kiwi and the other guy was an Aussie....maybe some resentment on Gav's part to all the pain that our respective countries dealt to him on the pitch).

[Yeeb]

I had the displeasure of meeting my boyhood hero - Gavin Hastings. What a tiresome, droning, self important bellend. So disappointing -

I had the displeasure of meeting him twice at corporate events a long time ago Very much the "don't you know who I am" sort!
Obviously matured with age as he was on fine form at a charity lunch in February He was even self-deprecating to the chap who asked him about the missed penalty from in front of the posts in the 1991 RWC match agaainst England. Though he did call him a bastard

Ah interesting. I meet him in 2000. It could have just been that he wasn't on form that day. But I was working a bar in a golf course and he was camped at one end holding court. I listened to my 'hero' drone on about rubbish for over 2 hours - everything was about him. To make matters worse - he was pretty rude and dismissive of me and the other bar staffer (although I'm a Kiwi and the other guy was an Aussie....maybe some resentment on Gav's part to all the pain that our respective countries dealt to him on the pitch).

They do say never meet your heroes.

[Slick]

I had the displeasure of meeting him twice at corporate events a long time ago Very much the "don't you know who I am" sort!
Obviously matured with age as he was on fine form at a charity lunch in February He was even self-deprecating to the chap who asked him about the missed penalty from in front of the posts in the 1991 RWC match agaainst England. Though he did call him a bastard

Ah interesting. I meet him in 2000. It could have just been that he wasn't on form that day. But I was working a bar in a golf course and he was camped at one end holding court. I listened to my 'hero' drone on about rubbish for over 2 hours - everything was about him. To make matters worse - he was pretty rude and dismissive of me and the other bar staffer (although I'm a Kiwi and the other guy was an Aussie....maybe some resentment on Gav's part to all the pain that our respective countries dealt to him on the pitch).

They do say never meet your heroes.

He was my boyhood hero and I still go weak at the knees when I meet him (genuinely) which gives great entertainment to my mates who have grown up with him.

[Yeeb]

Ah interesting. I meet him in 2000. It could have just been that he wasn't on form that day. But I was working a bar in a golf course and he was camped at one end holding court. I listened to my 'hero' drone on about rubbish for over 2 hours - everything was about him. To make matters worse - he was pretty rude and dismissive of me and the other bar staffer (although I'm a Kiwi and the other guy was an Aussie....maybe some resentment on Gav's part to all the pain that our respective countries dealt to him on the pitch).

They do say never meet your heroes.

He was my boyhood hero and I still go weak at the knees when I meet him (genuinely) which gives great entertainment to my mates who have grown up with him.

Possibly the gayest thing I’ve read all year, ya big whoopsie

[Slick]

They do say never meet your heroes.

He was my boyhood hero and I still go weak at the knees when I meet him (genuinely) which gives great entertainment to my mates who have grown up with him.

Possibly the gayest thing I’ve read all year, ya big whoopsie

I'll take that on the chin. So to speak.

[TedMaul]

Met GH many times, I actually would say he's a bit self contained, never seen the droning on side once. He's a regular in my golf club bar so I guess he's amongst his mates.

Great laugh - B Clark, FunBus, Moody
Generous - Dallaglio
Difficult to comprehend - Powell


(Most boring - M Lynagh)

[dpedin]

Met GH many times, I actually would say he's a bit self contained, never seen the droning on side once. He's a regular in my golf club bar so I guess he's amongst his mates.

Great laugh - B Clark, FunBus, Moody
Generous - Dallaglio
Difficult to comprehend - Powell


(Most boring - M Lynagh)

GH not the sharpest knife in the cutlery drawer, just a bit boring! His brother Scott is a very nice guy, more interesting and very generous despite all the trials and tribulations in his private life. Scott also had a bit of a wild side, notably being banned from the Edinburgh New Club I hear after a boozy dinner there. Of course this could just be a rumor?

[Slick]

Met GH many times, I actually would say he's a bit self contained, never seen the droning on side once. He's a regular in my golf club bar so I guess he's amongst his mates.

Great laugh - B Clark, FunBus, Moody
Generous - Dallaglio
Difficult to comprehend - Powell


(Most boring - M Lynagh)

GH not the sharpest knife in the cutlery drawer, just a bit boring! His brother Scott is a very nice guy, more interesting and very generous despite all the trials and tribulations in his private life. Scott also had a bit of a wild side, notably being banned from the Edinburgh New Club I hear after a boozy dinner there. Of course this could just be a rumor?

Don't know about the New Club but he was definitely wild in his youth. Gavin spent most of the '93 tour dragging him out of trouble.

As you say, he is an incredibly nice bloke these days. Always feels strange to see a British Lion selling raffle tickets at the club on Saturday.

[dpedin]

Some years ago my mate came up from down south for his first ever rugby international game, an Autumn International Scotland v All Blacks. We had tickets via a good rugby mate to get into the Murrayfield Wanderers clubhouse after the game, now sadly no more. When we went in we met Ivan Tukalo who I knew as our sons played rugby together, our group was then joined by Iain and Kenny Milne for a beer. Next up Andy Irvine joined us, Heriots connections. Finally Andy Nicol, Jeremy Guscutt and Keith Wood, they had all been on the TV coverage came in and joined up for a beer. I'm sure Norrie Rowan was also there later in the evening? Everyone bought their rounds and we had a great and boozy laugh. My mate was staggered he had met all these internationalists and Lions stars and got pished with them, he had only ever seen them on the TV. Unfortunately our memories of the night are slightly hazy!

[Biffer]

Some years ago my mate came up from down south for his first ever rugby international game, an Autumn International Scotland v All Blacks. We had tickets via a good rugby mate to get into the Murrayfield Wanderers clubhouse after the game, now sadly no more. When we went in we met Ivan Tukalo who I knew as our sons played rugby together, our group was then joined by Iain and Kenny Milne for a beer. Next up Andy Irvine joined us, Heriots connections. Finally Andy Nicol, Jeremy Guscutt and Keith Wood, they had all been on the TV coverage came in and joined up for a beer. I'm sure Norrie Rowan was also there later in the evening? Everyone bought their rounds and we had a great and boozy laugh. My mate was staggered he had met all these internationalists and Lions stars and got pished with them, he had only ever seen them on the TV. Unfortunately our memories of the night are slightly hazy!

Met Kenny Milne briefly in the pub quite a few years ago. Nice fella.

[dpedin]

Met GH many times, I actually would say he's a bit self contained, never seen the droning on side once. He's a regular in my golf club bar so I guess he's amongst his mates.

Great laugh - B Clark, FunBus, Moody
Generous - Dallaglio
Difficult to comprehend - Powell


(Most boring - M Lynagh)

GH not the sharpest knife in the cutlery drawer, just a bit boring! His brother Scott is a very nice guy, more interesting and very generous despite all the trials and tribulations in his private life. Scott also had a bit of a wild side, notably being banned from the Edinburgh New Club I hear after a boozy dinner there. Of course this could just be a rumor?

Don't know about the New Club but he was definitely wild in his youth. Gavin spent most of the '93 tour dragging him out of trouble.

As you say, he is an incredibly nice bloke these days. Always feels strange to see a British Lion selling raffle tickets at the club on Saturday.

Rumor had it was something to do with skinny dipping in the swimming pool/hot tub after a High Constables dinner. I could be wrong ....

[Punter15]

Met GH many times, I actually would say he's a bit self contained, never seen the droning on side once. He's a regular in my golf club bar so I guess he's amongst his mates.

Great laugh - B Clark, FunBus, Moody
Generous - Dallaglio
Difficult to comprehend - Powell


(Most boring - M Lynagh)

Particularly when he has the sniffles.

[TedMaul]

Met GH many times, I actually would say he's a bit self contained, never seen the droning on side once. He's a regular in my golf club bar so I guess he's amongst his mates.

Great laugh - B Clark, FunBus, Moody
Generous - Dallaglio
Difficult to comprehend - Powell


(Most boring - M Lynagh)

Particularly when he has the sniffles.

Packet in

[Uncle fester]

Bumped into Schalk Burger in Cape town while we were on tour there. He's sound as is his missus.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

GH not the sharpest knife in the cutlery drawer, just a bit boring! His brother Scott is a very nice guy, more interesting and very generous despite all the trials and tribulations in his private life. Scott also had a bit of a wild side, notably being banned from the Edinburgh New Club I hear after a boozy dinner there. Of course this could just be a rumor?

Don't know about the New Club but he was definitely wild in his youth. Gavin spent most of the '93 tour dragging him out of trouble.

As you say, he is an incredibly nice bloke these days. Always feels strange to see a British Lion selling raffle tickets at the club on Saturday.

Rumor had it was something to do with skinny dipping in the swimming pool/hot tub after a High Constables dinner. I could be wrong ....

My flatmate when I was at Uni worked in the Deacon Brodies, and had the pleasure of physically ejecting an extremely pissed Scott Hastings from the premises. I've met SH (and GH) a few times since retiring, always came over as a really nice bloke.

Sean Fitzpatrick though was a bit of a self-important twat. He was doing a motivational-type speech thing on a work away-day (so that part was all about him, fair enough), but in the evening afterwards I thought he might relax a bit, but unfortunately was pretty obnoxious. A shame, when I grew up in the 80s, the All Blacks were always my second team, so when I got a chance to meet him I was hoping he's be a top bloke.

[assfly]

I had a few beers with Alesana Tuilagi, many years ago. Wonderful guy, took us through many stories of his career.

[Grandpa]

Bumped into Buck Shelford in the Saints Bar after watching Northampton in the early 90s... ended up chatting to him for 20 minutes. Seemed to have no ego about him at all. Though I remember thinking he wasn't very tall.. but was very wide... and deep...

Also in 1989 Zinzan used to be a courier and would come into the bank I was working in at the time... at least once a week... was always very friendly with everyone. Though not sure what he'd be like now. He was only an Auckland star at that time really.

[Hugo]

Also in 1989 Zinzan used to be a courier and would come into the bank I was working in at the time... at least once a week... was always very friendly with everyone. Though not sure what he'd be like now. He was only an Auckland star at that time really.

Zinny lives in Windsor nowadays I think. From what I've seen of his recent interviews does not appear to be arrogant although you never know till you meet them irl.

[Slick]

Also in 1989 Zinzan used to be a courier and would come into the bank I was working in at the time... at least once a week... was always very friendly with everyone. Though not sure what he'd be like now. He was only an Auckland star at that time really.

Zinny lives in Windsor nowadays I think. From what I've seen of his recent interviews does not appear to be arrogant although you never know till you meet them irl.

He does, or at least did, and I played against him a couple of times when he player coached at the rugby club. Absolutely top bloke in the bar after both times.

Also found Fitzy to be a bit up himself when I’ve bumped into him in London a few times

[Kawazaki]

Ronseal. We've all met or heard horror stories of rugby players who are pricks so here's some positivity.

Every interview of a rugby player I've ever heard talking about Kev Mealamu says he is the nicest guy ever. I think it was Nick Evans who said that when he was a roommate of Kev he asked him if could turn the TV on as of the was a kid asking permission from his parents rather than an AB legend. Evans was thinking "You're Keven Mealamu, you can do what you want".

Rancid Mick-bait.

[OomStruisbaai]

One of the nicest guys is Schalk Burger.

[Slick]

One of the nicest guys is Schalk Burger.

Just wear protective glasses