Here are five occasions when things got a little bit too competitive between teammates on the training ground.
5. Paul O'Connell vs Ryan Caldwell
O'Connell lost his nerve with the Ulster second-row in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup. The Munster legend threw a punch and he went down, unconscious with a tooth bursting his cheek. Caldwell swallowed a lot of blood and an ambulance had to rush him to the hospital. The team doctor later told O'Connell: "The story is, you nearly killed him.”
The Ireland legend, who would often involved in training ground scraps, would never be involved in another after he learned from this incident that a single punch could hurt someone badly.
4. Neil Back vs Julian White
Martin Corry tells this story perfectly.
"It was all kicking off . . . Backy doing his streetfighter thing and getting in close and Whitey throwing these haymakers. There was blood all over the place and I'm thinking: 'Bloody hell, that looks a bit fierce.' Eventually it all calmed down, at which point Julian says: 'That's a shame, I was just getting him where I wanted him.'"
3. Danny Cipriani vs Joe Worsley
In October 2008, Cipriani was knocked out in a training ground bust-up with club and international team-mate Josh Lewsey. The row is said to have blown up after Lewsey criticised the 20-year-old Cipriani for missing a couple of tackles – and the dispute quickly spiralled into a brutal confrontation.
2.Brian O'Driscoll vs Austin Healey
When England's Healey began poking fun at a swollen and bruised Ronan O'Gara during the Lions tour, a young O'Driscoll snapped and beat the lard out of him.
Here is Legend Keith Wood's version of events.
"Austin came in and he was being an unbelievable pain in the a**e. I mean beyond all belief. He was touching ROG's face and saying 'c'mom Rog, let's have a little boxing match.,, c'mon c'mon'.
"ROG just said 'p**s off, just leave me alone, get away from me' and then suddenly this little voice peeps in... 'I'll have a bit of that,' says Drico and they put on a pair of boxing gloves and Drico beat the living crap out of him.
1. Martin Johnson vs Lewis Moody
Former England captain Martin Johnson laid out Leicester teammate Moody. They were playing touch, Alex Tuilagi broke through to score and Lewis clattered him. Johnno took exception and quickly laid him out.
"It was my first session and I was extra keen, trying to do everything and hit everything," Moody told The Sun.
"Tempers flared and 'Johnno' and I had a little coming together. He gave me a little dink and I gave him a little dink - but his hurt a lot more!
"It's just typical training ground stuff. You need that friendly rivalry."
