5 Rugby Stars Who Are HATED In ONE Country

Monday, 02 May 2022 at 11:15

byRugby Rucker

From bad referee calls to on-field scraps, RUCK takes a look at a number of rugby stars who are hated in a specific country.

#1. Wayne Barnes - New Zealand

Many Kiwis still haven't gotten over Barnes' performance in the 2007 RWC quarter-final against France. Barnes missed a clear forward pass from Damien Traille to Freddie Michalak in the lead up to a France try.

It led to the All Blacks' earliest ever exit from a World Cup, and Barnes was subsequently named the most hated man in New Zealand.

#2. Quade Cooper - New Zealand

Cooper opened up about his the highs and lows of his career, including the experience of being New Zealand’s most hated man after he kneed All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in the head.

#3. Jonny Wilkinson- Australia

Let's just say they were bitter over their 2003 Rugby World Cup defeat.

jonny wilkinson martin johnson world cup 3144113 min

#4. Mike Brown - Wales, 2016

In his own words, the fullback is a ‘marmite player’ with fans either loving or hating him. A skinhead who enjoys confrontation is not the traditional mould for an England No15.

Mike Brown of Harlequins celebrates with the trophy on his final day as a Harlequin during the Gallagher Premiership Cup Final between Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins at Twickenham Stadium June 26, 2021 in London, England (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

#5. Craig Joubert - Scotland

The Wallabies were on the other side of this one when Joubert erroneously awarded Australia a late penalty during the 2015 World Cup.

The play should have seen the Wallabies been given a scrum feed, instead Bernard Foley kicked the goal and Australia went to the semis after a 35-34 win.

I still don't think the South African is allowed into Scotland with some fans believing that he's still running away from Stuart Hogg to this day...