Fans have been ranking who they consider the dirtiest players in the game today.
Some players seem to be chosen due to their unpopularity, while others have been singled out for their thuggish actions on the field.
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#5. Owen Farrell (England)
Could anyone else have taken the spotlight first? Farrell embodies the term “our guy” more than most. He’s the player you love to hate unless he’s on your team, in which case you’d defend him passionately.
The former England captain, nicknamed ‘Shoulder Boy’ for his high tackles, hasn’t helped his reputation with his poor tackling technique in the past.
Owen Farrell facts:
The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.