LIST | 5 of the biggest fights in rugby history

These instances may be few and far between, but there have been plenty of occasions when the ignominious side of football has reared its ugly head and some brutal fights have broken out on the field.

Let us take a look at FIVE of the biggest altercations that took place during a rugby match.

Not some much as a contest as a savage beating. Leicester Tigers’ centre, Manu Tuilagi, took out Saints’ wing, Chris Ashton, off the ball with a swinging arm. Ashton, understandably, was not best pleased about this and shoved the Samoan born England international in the back. What happened next was eyeball rubbing!

Sometimes however, teams pre plan their crude attacks against their opponents. Such was the case during the 1974 Lions tour, when Captain Willie John McBride devised the 99 call. The strategy called for the entire team to involve themselves in a fight with their direct opponent, believing that the referee would not send off the fifteen Lions players involved.

It was the the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia and the Lions were playing the New South Wales Waratahs. The Waratahs were under pressure in their own 22. Duncan McRae gets hot headed and finds himself on the ground beside Ronan O'Gara. Whether the Lion did or said something to McRae we don't know but McCrae was definitely not an O'Gara fan. 

He punched the Lions out-half 11 times in the face leaving him in need of medical attention. O'Gara was treated and recieved 8 stitches above his eye. McRae was duely awarded a red card for his actions.

Northhampton Saints were playing against Leicester tigers and 15 minutes into the second half and Leicester were ahead but had a yellow card. Northampton were in the Leicester 22 and were looking for a try to bring them back into the game.

There was a Northhampton maul and this is where it started. Tom Youngs was holding onto Ma'afu which aggravated him. Ma'afu lashed out at Youngs with an uppercut followed by a left hook to the side of the head knocking the Leicester man off his feet.

Agen and Lyon were playing in the Pro D2, and Lyon were down 12-6. Marc Giraud successfully slowed Chabal down after a maul but the Lyon manwas not happy. 

The No.4 lock swung around and made a connection with the left side of Girauds head. Giraud collapsed immediately and Chabal was awarded a yellow card.