Rugby World Cup - The 10 Strangest Rugby Superstitions

In a few days, England meet Fiji at Twickenham and the 2015 World Cup will finally be upon us.

In the next part of our countdown ahead of the sport’s biggest tournament, Total Reading delves into some of the strangest superstitions rugby has to offer.

They may be some of the biggest names but that doesn’t prevent them for falling into the routine of ritual and repetition, all in hope of having the best possible chance of heading onto the field and emerging victorious.

Some deem it a waste of time, others swear by it, but one thing is for sure – superstition won’t be leaving the world of rugby any time soon.

Jonny Wilkinson and his consistent shirt

Kicking off our list is none other than England legend Jonny Wilkinson. Before each game the fly-half would always wear the same T-shirt under his shirt by means of a lucky charm. On many occasion it could be said to have paid off for the Surrey-born national treasure. As well as keeping his T-shirt as consistent as his ever reliable kicks, the former England number 10 would never wear his match shirt during the warm up.

The habitual vomiting of the Welsh national team

According to ex-Bath and England international Michael Lipman, the players within the Welsh national team used to collectively vomit before a key international clash, as a way of clearing their stomach and being 100 per cent ready for what lay ahead. Not the most desirable of superstitions, this became somewhat of a ritual for members within the Wales squad Lipman says, and, as we all know, rituals aren’t the easiest of things to shake off.

The ear-lobe loving of Mike Catt

Prior to any major international, South Africa-born England international Mike Catt would always touch his ear during the national anthems, as the camera panned across the England line-up. Originally intended as a way of sending a visual message to his family members watching at home, the routine became somewhat of a pre-match ritual for Catt and continued throughout the entirety of his international career.

Mark Cueto’s recipe for success

Former Sale Sharks and England international Mark Cueto had a culinary superstition during his playing days, yet not quite the type of cuisine worthy of a Michelin star. The humble classic of beans on toast was a staple part of Cueto’s pre-match preparation and the winger would not take to the field unless this had been consumed. It didn’t stop there – Cueto also religiously endeavoured to put his left boot on first before every match, along with being the last man off the coach and the last out of the changing rooms. Anything for success though, right?

Botanical training for the Scots

Not so much a staple pre-match routine, but the Scottish World Cup side of 2003 chose to complete their final stages of preparation in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh. Ian McGeechan’s men took a full set of aerobic training equipment to work up a sweat in the jungle-like surroundings. Some may say this was a rather extreme and stereotypical way of preparing for a major tournament in Australia. It must have done some good however, as the Scots reached the semi-finals down under, only to be eliminated by, well, Australia of course.

Bath Rugby and the omission of number 13

For decades Bath played without a number 13, meaning former outside-centre Jeremy Guscott was not in the normal number for his position. Sadly, the original omission of the 13 shirt dated back to the death of Clifford Walwin, who was kicked in the spleen in a match against Cross Keys on December 27, 1919. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, he died the following day and the interim period which followed saw the shirt removed completely.

The lonely mannerisms of Mike Tindall

The ‘junkyard dog’, as he was known in the world of rugby, Mike Tindall didn’t invest much in superstition. However, one thing remained consistent for the former England outside-centre – he always left the changing room last, as a matter of ritual. Perhaps it was a case of making sure everything was out on the field, spirit, mentality and all. Or then again, perhaps the Yorkshireman simply took too long to get ready. Who knows?

Jason Robinson and his timely strapping

He may have been known for his precision runs down the wing for England and Sale Sharks, but it is little known that Jason Robinson was also as regular as clockwork when it came to applying his pre-match strapping and supports. The pint-sized Leeds boy was said to have a special order for applying strapping and at a certain time prior to a game. On top of this, and unlike many other players, Robinson was also keen to leave the tunnel first as part of his routine.

The very even routine of Stefan Ratchford

Warrington rugby league player Stefan Ratchford can be said to be a man of precise routine. The full-back gets up at the same time of day on matchday, gets dressed in the same predetermined order, eats the same food at the same time and does everything in even numbers. It is all very meticulous yet rather simple. However, one oddity does stand out in the superstitious preparations of Ratchford, he always asks a specific teammate to hand him his chewing gum exactly five minutes before the warm-up begins. It used to be Chris Riley that he relied on, but once he left the team, Ratchford had to find a new chewing gum buddy so Chris Hill apparently took over this unusual duty. Each to their own, right?

The Haka

It seems almost too woven into the fabric of international rugby to be anything other than normality, but the All Blacks’ Haka is very much a pre-match ritual carried out in superstition. The traditional ancestral war dance is carried out before every New Zealand match, as the players allow passion and testosterone fuel their cries. Is it possible to imagine a Rugby World Cup tournament without the legendary Haka? We think not.