LIST | 15 Most Legit Rugby Tough Guys Ever

“Pick a definitive list of rugby’s hard men?” is one of those nice innocuous questions – the kind that comes up in the pub – that ends up stoking a raging argument that lasts for hours.

15. Jerry Collins (New Zealand)

A no better place to start. The All Black flanker, who tragically died in a car crash, was widely regarded as one of the most abrasive players to ever step foot on a rugby pitch.

14. Martin Johnson (England)

Johnson had stellar success in his career, but he always played every match like a wounded beast. One of the game’s true greats.

13. Schalk Burger (South Africa)

Burger made a comeback after suffering bacterial meningitis, an operation on his spine and calf and knee problems. He cannot be stopped

12. Jamie Cudmore (Canada)

Don’t be fooled by his nickname ‘Cuddles’. The 37-year-old former Canadian logger spent a year in a juvenile detention centre when his trouble-filled youth included being a collection agent for drug dealers. A true warrior on the pitch.

11. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)

He was the totem of the Irish pack and their go-to man from the first time he pulled on a green jersey back in 2002 until the last at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Another who led by example throwing himself into the fray with scant regard for life and limb.

10. Wade Dooley (England)

He more than justified his nickname of "The Blackpool Tower". Standing at six ft eight inches tall and a Police Officer in Blackpool, Dooley amassed 55 England caps after making his debut against Romania in 1985.

9. Sergio Parisse (Italy)

The powerhouse No.8 has that steely edge that wouldn’t have looked out of place at the local Colosseum a few thousand years ago. Been carrying Italian rugby on his broad shoulders for 15 years now and has walked the disciplinary tightrope at times.

8. Wayne Shelford (New Zealand)

In a match against France in 1986, Buck incurred one of the worst injuries any man could ever imagine: his scrotum was ripped open by a guy’s cleat. What did he do? Kept playing, obviously. Eventually, he had the trainer stitch him up so he could return to the game.

7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

No list would be complete without the greatest New Zealand warrior to don an All Blacks shirt since the late great Collins. Nothing epitomised the former All Black skipper more than playing through the 2011 World Cup campaign with a broken bone in his foot.

6. Lewis Moody (England)

He's the man who once traded punches with Martin Johnson during a tackling drill at Leicester and is famed for his fearless charges into every ruck and every maul. Mad Dog' certainly lived up to the nickname.

5. Sebastien Chabal (France)

To be sure, part of Sebastien Chabal’s mystique is his burly caveman appearance. But he’s also gargantuan and has the brute force to back up his looks. I mean, it’s not like just anyone can get a montage of their top plays set to the score from Terminator.

4. Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)

Anyone nicknamed ‘Gorgodzilla’ for his exploits in the school of hard knocks that is the French Top 14 means the 6ft 5ins 18st 10lbs Tblisi-born back rower is an absolute animal.

3. Bakkies Botha

Botha is regarded as one of the toughest and nastiest men to ever play the game. In his first ever international match, he got a yellow card for “stamping” (like, with your feet). Also, he served suspensions for eye-gouging Australian Brendan Cannon and head-butting New Zealander Jimmy Cowan.

2. Brian Lima (Samoa)

In 2003, Samoan hardman Brian Lima issued one of the most bone-crushing hits in the history of the RWC (and probably in the history of rugby in general) against South Africa’s Derick Hougaard. The initial hit comes at the 0:09 mark (not that you could miss it.

1. Jacques Burger (Namibia)

His wild hair and misshapen nose bear testament to his hammering away at the breakdown coalface as a player who could perform with distinction across all three back-row positions.

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