FIJI’S rugby players kneeled in respect before Britain’s Princess Anne prior to their Autumn Nations Series clash with Scotland at Twickenham.
As the British royal was introduced to each of the players’ they knelt down and clapped three times out of respect for the Brit.
As each player shook hands they exchanged a few words with Princess Anne, who smiled throughout the ceremony.
Clapping three times is traditionally performed during a Fijian Kava ceremony, signifying the bringing together of two families.
After drinking the Kava root drink it is customary to clap three times and say “mathe”.
Reacting to the Fijians mark of respect, one fan wrote: "HRH Princess Anne looks like a gentle lady...Great respect shown by Fiji players."
A second said: "I am in no way a Royalist, in fact im very much against the establishment however ive always thought Princess Anne was quite impressive and watching her meet the Fijian rugby team just now she was impeccable and looked so interested."
"Absolutely loving the respect @fijirugby are showing Princess Anne," commented a third.
A clip:
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“Oh god yes” – Wayne Barnes and Nigel Owens rank the five worst players to referee
Nigel Owens and Wayne Barnes have been revealing the toughest players they’ve had to referee during their career as high-profile match officials.
Two of the best referee’s to ever pick up an ACME Whistle, it’s interesting to see who give them the hardest time on the rugby pitch.
DID YOU KNOW? Nigel Owens started refereeing in 1987, after his sports teacher John Beynon suggested he take up refereeing after a poor performance in a school game.
#1. Richie McCaw
BARNES SAID: “Richie always had the knack of asking the right question at the right time, sometimes it felt like I was losing a little bit of control. Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t talk a lot on the field. He knew the law book inside out and so when he asked a question, he often had a point.”
OWENS SAID: "If anybody had to pick the greatest player in history, it would surely be a difficult choice between him and Gareth Edwards."
#2. Dan Biggar
OWENS SAID: “Oh god yes. He’s so focused and so passionate about what he’s doing, we’ve had a few run ins on the pitch down the years. I mean, it’s always been in a respectful way as we always have a drink and a laugh after the game.”
Dan Biggar facts:
- Biggar has twice been selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions (2017 & 2021)
- On 7 December 2015, Biggar won the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year Award
- Biggar came through the Ospreys development pathway, having attended Gowerton Comprehensive School in Swansea
- The fly-half has his own routine before kicking goals, which fans now call “The Biggarena” after Los Del Rio’s 1995 hit, Macarena
#3. Martin Johnson
BARNES SAID: “I was always petrified of him because he was coming to the end of his career when I started in the Premiership. 2003 was my first [season] and obviously that was towards the end of his career and I remember I had to sin-bin him once and I actually apologised as I did it. I said ‘I’m very sorry I have to do this’ because he’s such a big personality. I guess he was always someone who scared me witless!”
DID YOU KNOW? Under his management England won the 2011 Six Nations Championship, their first since 2003
#4. Austin Healey
OWENS SAID: “Definitely. I only caught him towards the end of his career, thankfully. A wonderfully talented player and a very good pundit now, but he always had plenty say and quickly assumed I didn’t like him. He’s actually blocked me on Twitter, but I don’t think I’m the only one.”
Austin Healey facts:
- He has 51 England caps and 2 Lions caps
- Healey appeared on BBC gameshow,
Mastermind, on 4 January 2013. His specialist subject was Everton Football Club
- He is a famously competitive and "outspoken" character, gaining the nickname "The Leicester Lip"
- Healey's autobiography, Lions, Tigers and Roses, was published by Oxford University Press in 2001
#5. Maro Itoje (England)
OWENS SAID: “Itoje is someone who plays right on the edge. That is what makes him such a great player. He must be so difficult to play against but he’s also difficult to referee and I mean that with the utmost respect."
BARNES SAID: "The hardest players are the best players,”
Maro Itoje facts:
- As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put
- Maro got a rugby scholarship to London Harrow school when he was 11. He then studied for a Politics degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies in Bloomsbury, London at the same time as starting his rugby career
- He is also the cousin of Bath’s loosehead-prop Beno Obano
- The lock was born Oghenemaro Miles Itoje in Camden, London on 28 October 1994 to Nigerian parents
