20 of the best nicknames in Rugby: Briefcase, Rikishi and the Sheriff

Top 10s/Lists

by Steven Smith

Tuesday, 22 January 2019 at 16:54

bySteven Smith

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Most of the time, nicknames in sport are pretty unimaginative and formulaic— Wilko, Johnno and Fazz didn’t take an awful lot of thought. For this reason, we must celebrate the instances when nicknames are creative, funny or downright bizarre.

Here are some of our absolute favourites:

1. LIAM WILLIAMS (SANJAY)

It was while he was on holiday in Greece as a small boy that another British family reckoned the Saracens-bound star looked like Sanjay Kapoor, the former market trader from Eastenders! The name stuck.

2. TADHG FURLONG (RIKISHI)

The Irish tighhead says of his nickname: "My belly gets a good flash on national television.

"It came up in the video review, Joe Schmidt said "Oh, here comes WWF...", not even WWE so, WWF, we're going back a few years. And of course the lads jumped on the bandwagon and started calling me Rikishi, the big fat wrestler!"

3. ELLIOT DALY (BRIEFCASE)

The England star got his nickname after turned up at his first Wasps training session in his Whitgift school uniform and carrying you know what!

4. MARO ITOJE (PEARL)

Called 'The Pearl' by Saracens and England team-mates for a perceived preciousness to the sides he plays in.

Maro Itoje of Saracens celebrates the win during the Aviva Premiership Final between Exeter Chiefs and Saracens at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on May 26. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK/Aviva

5. KEN OWENS (SHERIFF)

In a nod to his grandfather having been mayor of Carmarthen and council chairman, Scarlets hooker Ken Owens is The Sheriff. Also known as Cannonball Ken for his ball carrying.

6. IAIN HENDERSON (THE LLAMA)

Given his nickname by former Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan after first clasping eyes on the bearded Ulsterman at a training camp tucking into a bowl of cereal at breakfast.

7. JAMES HASKELL (ALWAYS MORE)

The England flanker earned his nickname while playing for Stade Francais in 2009 because of his hunger for more training as well as baguettes and espressos during his stay in Paris.

8. TOMMY SEYMOUR (STERN)

"My nickname is Stern because they say I'm always grumpy," says the Scotland wing.

9. JONATHAN DAVIES (FOX)

With his parents having run the Fox & Hounds pub in Bancyfelin, Wales centre Jonathan Davies was destined to be known as Fox. Inevitably, his younger brother James is the Cub!

10. JONATHAN JOSEPH (E.T FINGERS)

Got his nickname while playing for the London Irish youth team because of his ability to grip the rugby ball one-handed during the game.

11. SEAN O'BRIEN (THE TULLOW TANK)

Hailing from the market town of Tullow, in County Carlow, and known for his physical presence on the rugby field in smashing his way through opposing defences, as they say his nickname does what is says on the tin.

12. COURTNEY LAWES (CORPSE OR BIG GOOSE)

George North announced to the media the nicknames of his Northampton team-mate but not the reasons behind them. You can work out tipping the tape measure to 6ft 7in is behind Big Goose while Corpse is a play on his name.

13. KEITH WOOD – THE RAGING POTATO

Wood was another front rower who loved to carry the ball. With his distinctive bald head, it is not difficult to work out why he was called “the Raging Potato”.

14. BILLY TWELVETREES - 36

Billy Twelvetrees’ rugby nickname is ’36’. Using your broadest regional accent and thinking back to primary school multiplication tables, say “Twelve trees is 36”.

15. COLIN MEADS - PINETREE

Meads was given the nickname of “Pinetree” because of his dominating physical presence. He was named New Zealand’s Player of the Century at the New Zealand Rugby Football Union’s annual awards in 1999.

16. JASON ROBINSON - BILLY WHIZZ

The England legend was named after the character in the British comic , who is an extremely fast runner.

The Beano

17. NICK CUMMINS - THE HONEY BADGER

This was the nickname bestowed on larger-than-life Wallaby winger Nick Cummins after he drew inspiration from the fierce nature of the animal and attempted to think like it in defence.

18. JASON LEONARD - FUN BUS

When barrel-chested, fun-loving England prop Justin Leonard trundled onto the field wearing a red shirt in one game, fellow forward Martin Bayfield said he looked like a London bus! Thus, the name fun bus was born!

19. BRIAN LIMA - THE CHIROPRACTOR

He earned the memorable nickname of "The Chiropractor" for his shuddering hits both on and off the pitch that supposedly rearranged the bones of the victim.