Rugby Union is currently enduring a torrid time in the public eye. The last few months have seen players caught taking drugs, refusing to take drug tests, eye gouging, brawling in bars and faking injuries. Sport.co.uk takes a look at the top ten disgraced rugby players.
Matt Stevens
The first man caught out at Bath. Stevens has been on the scene for many years and has accumulated 32 England caps. Non rugby fans will know him as the finalist on the celebrity X Factor. Either way, his career on the pitch or on the stage is now in tatters as he serves a two year ban for cocaine use.
Justin Harrison
Another of the Bath team that has been embroiled in the drugs controversy. Harrison has always been a tough player to embrace. His actions on the field rile numerous sets of opposition supporters. Now it is his actions off the pitch that have finally ended his long career.
Lawrence Dallaglio
During the pre Rugby World Cup 1999 warm up games, Lawrence Dallaglio was hit by a News of the World sting. Undercover reporters managed to get “Lol” to admit to illegal drug use and also drug dealing. Dallaglio was stripped of the national team captaincy. It affected England massively as they were knocked out early on in the tournament.
Mathieu Bastareaud
Bastareaud is widely considered one of the finest young players in France, however he is currently on the verge of a three year international ban. During the 2009 summer tour to New Zealand, Bastareaud appeared with facial cuts and bruising. He blamed this on a racially motivated attack in Wellington. Politicians from both countries were involved before Bastareaud admitted he got the injuries after falling over drunk.
Keith Murdoch
Keith Murdoch was an All Blacks prop on the 1972 tour to Great Britain. After scoring the only try in the match against Wales, Murdoch went on a late night drinking spree that resulted in him punching a security guard. The next day Murdoch was sent home in disgrace. Instead of going directly back to New Zealand to face the music, Murdoch disembarked in Australia and went to live in the outback. 37 years later, Murdoch remains in Australia, living in the Bush.
Tom Williams
Although some would consider it unfair to single out Tom Williams for the “Bloodgate” incident, the player has not escaped from the incident with great dignity. Having followed management instructions to fake a blood injury and stupidly giving a “wink” when he left the pitch, what people find amazing is that after the game Williams cut his own mouth to try and cover up the scam. He is currently serving a four month ban for the incident.
John Jeffrey & Dean Richards
The “Great White Shark” and “Deano’s” night out has gone down in folklore for an incident after the 1988 Calcutta Cup match against England. Jeffrey and English back rower, Dean Richards took the Cup out on a drinking session around the streets of Edinburgh following the match. The Cup ended up being used as a makeshift football, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to the famous trophy. Jeffrey was banned for 6 months by the SRU, while Richards was only subjected to a one match ban.
Marc Cecillon
Cecillon was the captain of the much feared 1990’s French side. Having retired from rugby, Cecillon remained involved in the game at his local club but struggled to adjust to life away from playing. In August 2004, a drunken Cecillon was having an argument with his wife at a party. Having stormed out, Cecillon returned and shot his wife dead in front of 60 guests. After his arrest, Cecillon could not remember the incident and refused to believe that he had committed the crime. Cecillon is currently serving 14 years in prison for the murder.
Duncan McRae
Having successfully switched from rugby league to union, enjoying spells with Saracens and the NSW Waratahs, McRae gained notoriety following a match against the touring British and Irish Lions in 2001. In an already violent match, an unprovoked McRae pinned down Ronan O’Gara and repeatedly punched him in the face. O’Gara was left covered in blood and required medical attention while McRae was sent off and given a seven week ban. The ban was laughable as McRae did not have any games scheduled during that seven week period.
Trevor Brennan
The hard man of Irish rugby at the turn of the century. Brennan was in the latter stages of his career at Toulouse when they hosted Ulster in the Heineken Cup. Upon hearing some abuse directed at him from an Ulster supporter, Brennan entered the stand and rained down a volley of punches on the spectator. Brennan was banned for life immediately following the incident, a ban that was reduced to 5 years on appeal. Despite the incident, Brennan is still a fans favourite in Ireland and Toulouse, where he still lives.