There were a lot of big hits, melees, dangerous tackles, scuffles and monster tackles over the last 12 months. We decided to narrow down our list to five.
French passion spills over
The stereotype goes that the French play exciting, fast-paced rugby, do not travel well, are unpredictable and their breath stinks. Those may well be true, but they know how to mix it like the rest of them when the time is required.
Agen and Bordeaux had quite the ‘getting-to-know-each other’ as GAA commentator Ger Canning would call it in October and this was more than just a case of hand-bags.
Dylan Hartley
This video from the Heineken Cup encounter against Ulster isn’t the worst we have seen from the Northampton hooker. This elbow on Rory Best landed him with a two-week ban, but it is just another unsavoury incident from the New Zealand born player.
He was banned for eight weeks in March for biting the finger of Stephen Ferris during the Six Nations – has he got it in for Ulster players? – but accusations of eye-gouging have dogged his career.
Andrew Hore
It is difficult for any Irish fan to have any sympathy for Welsh lock Bradley Davies. After he drove Donnacha Ryan into the ground during the Six Nations encounter last February in a game decided by a single score, he was not going to feature on any Irish Christmas card list.
However, Andrew Hore’s attack on the second row during the Autumn international in Cardiff was over the top and deserving of the five-week ban. Davies still shouldn’t expect any Irish Christmas cards, but it will soften our thoughts on the big man ever so slightly. We did say slightly.
Aled Brew
The Amlin Challenge Cup is not as glamorous as the Heineken Cup, but that is not to say teams don’t compete as ferociously. Welsh back Aled Brew now togs out for Biarritz, but last season he was part of the Newport Gwent Dragons side that featured in Europe’s secondary competition.
Perhaps it would be best to ask Perpignan scrum-half David Mele if Brew treats the competition with the respect it deserves after this crunching tackle early in the season.
Andy Hazell
This was one of the worst assaults you are likely to see on a rugby pitch. Gloucester’s Andy Hazell took matters into his own hands – and knees – during an attack on a Mont de Marsen player.
The flanker claimed that there were three attempts made to make contact with his eyes beforehand and that caused the violent reaction. He subsequently received a 14 week ban.
BONUS ENTRY
Irish pitch invader
You could argue that this shouldn’t be part of the list, but it’s our list and were putting one extra in there. It is a quality tackle, but involves an Irish fan running onto the pitch during the Rugby 7’s tournament in Australia earlier this year.
Unfortunately for him this wasn’t Croke Park and there was no need for a Plan B. The stewards unceremoniously dumped him to the ground, though his footwork left a little to be desired, perhaps as a result of a few too many brewskis.
He was also fined $800 for his troubles. But at least he’s got his moment of fame.
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