LIST | 5 Weirdest Pre-Game Rituals of Six Nations stars

Prior to any major international, South Africa-born England international, Mike Catt would always touch his ear during the national anthems, as the camera panned across the England line-up. Originally intended as a way of sending a visual message to his family members watching at home, the routine became somewhat of a pre-match ritual for Catt and continued throughout the entirety of his international career.

Before each game, Jonny Wilkinson would always wear the same T-shirt under his shirt by means of a lucky charm. On many occasion it could be said to have paid off for the Surrey-born national treasure. As well as keeping his T-shirt as consistent as his ever reliable kicks, the former England number 10 would never wear his match shirt during the warm up.

Mike Tindall was one of those players who had to be the last man out of the changing room before big international fixtures. This is the type of routine that’s perfectly harmless – so long as it only applies to one of your squad. If most of your team have the same superstition, you could be faced with a long wait at the end of the tunnel while your team argues, prima-donna style, over who’s going to be at the tail end of the procession.

The Ireland fly-half can be said to be a man of precise routine. The full-back gets up at the same time of day on matchday, gets dressed in the same predetermined order, eats the same food at the same time and does everything in even numbers. 

According to ex-Bath and England international Michael Lipman, the players within the Welsh national team used to collectively vomit before a key international clash, as a way of clearing their stomach and being 100 per cent ready for what lay ahead.