When we talk about rugby union we often tend to think about the breaks, the tries, the good passes and every good thing this sport has to offer us.
However, just as in life, you can find anything in rugby, as there is a dark side of this sport that not so many people like to discuss.
Today we’re going to take a look at those hot-head players who took things further when it came to defend and tackle for the ball.
Here are the 5 dirtiest players in the history of rugby.
In December 2014, he was banned for three weeks for elbowing Tigers wing Matt Smith, and then in May of 2015 he was suspended for four weeks for butting his Saracens opposite number Jamie George, which led to him being dropped from England’s World Cup plans.
In 2016, he caught Leinster’s Sean O’Brien to the head with a swinging arm from behind, picking up a red card which was followed by a six-week ban.
At least that’s it now he has hung up his boots!
#5. Bakkies Botha
The Springbok lock certainly totted up the bans. Eight weeks for “attacking the face” of Aussie hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003; three weeks for striking another Wallaby, Phil Waugh, in 2009; two matches for an illegal clear out on Adam Jones in the second Lions Test in the same year; four weeks for a similar offence on Gio Aplon in 2010; and nine weeks for a headbutt on Jimmy Cowan in 2010. Unarguably one of the dirtiest rugby players ever.