Six dirtiest rugby players of all-time, two Englishmen included

With some players it is difficult to distinguish whether or not they are simply playing with grit and determination

Here are, in RUCK's opinion, the 5 dirtiest rugby players in history.

Throughout his career, this Northampton player accumulated a staggering total of 60 days in bans, showcasing a penchant for on-field controversies.

In the annals of rugby misconduct, April 2007 marked a notorious moment when the Northampton athlete found himself banned for a whopping 26 weeks. The offense? Gouging Wasps duo James Haskell and Jonny O’Connor.

Fast forward to March 2012, and he was suspended for eight weeks for sinking his teeth into Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris while representing England at Twickenham. The disciplinary woes continued in December 2012 with a two-week ban for throwing punches at Ulster’s Rory Best.

May 2013 brought about an 11-week suspension, a consequence of verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes during the Saints’ Premiership final defeat to Leicester. This incident also cost him a spot on the Lions tour of Australia. Yet, despite the repercussions, he failed to learn his lesson. In December 2014, he earned a three-week ban for elbowing Tigers wing Matt Smith. Then, in May 2015, a four-week suspension followed for striking Saracens' Jamie George, leading to his exclusion from England's World Cup plans.

In 2016, the saga continued as he grabbed Leinster’s Sean O’Brien in the head with a swinging arm from behind, resulting in a red card and a subsequent six-week ban. The pattern of on-field indiscretions marked a turbulent career for this rugby player.

In the rough and tumble world of rugby, this second-row player has earned quite a reputation for having a short fuse. His track record includes a five-week ban back in 1998 for kicking All Blacks hooker Anton Oliver during a Test match in Dunedin. The disciplinary woes continued with a two-week suspension in 2003 for throwing punches at Lawrence Dallaglio during a club match.

In 2005, he faced a two-month ban for sinking his teeth into All Black hooker Keven Mealamu during the first Lions Test. The following year, a six-week suspension was handed down for a punching incident involving French lock Thibault Privat. Not stopping there, in 2010, he received a seven-week ban for stomping on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris.

Known for his frequent visits to the disciplinary offices, this player has rightfully earned his place among the dirtiest rugby players in the game.

Known as The Enforcer, All Blacks prop Loe had something of a reputation.

In October 1992, his actions caught up with him when he was found guilty of deliberately inserting his fingers into the eyes of Otago full-back Greg Cooper “with considerable force” during the national championship final.

This one still makes me wince. Northampton flanker Clark was found guilty of intentionally hyper-extending and breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins during the 2012 LV cup final. The ban was initially for 64 weeks, but was halved due to his guilty plea.

Stade Francais prop Attoub was banned after gouging Ulster’s Stephen Ferris during a stormy Heineken Cup clash at Ravenhill in December 2009.

Ferris told the hearing: “The contact was very strong and extremely painful - the finger in my right eye was forced downward in a poking and gouging motion; it was someone trying to drive a finger as hard as he could into my eye socket and I could not prevent it.” Ouch!

The Springbok lock certainly totted up the bans. Eight weeks for “attacking the face” of Aussie hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003; three weeks for striking another Wallaby, Phil Waugh, in 2009; two matches for an illegal clear out on Adam Jones in the second Lions Test in the same year; four weeks for a similar offence on Gio Aplon in 2010; and nine weeks for a headbutt on Jimmy Cowan in 2010. Unarguably one of the dirtiest rugby players ever.

This extraordinary feat is as scarce as they come, with only 20 players accomplishing the remarkable three-try milestone since the Championship expanded to six nations in 2000.

Notably, a couple of players have even pulled off this astonishing feat twice, adding an extra layer of prestige to their rugby prowess.

Now, take a moment to rewind and test your memory. Can you recall the names of these exceptional hat-trick heroes?

If you manage a perfect score, you'll undoubtedly be entitled to a celebration on par with the jubilant antics witnessed by some of the stars on this illustrious list.