World Cup - Top 10: World Cup hardmen
We look at the Top 10 hardmen in World Cup history.
Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
His moniker ‘The Enforcer’ says it all. Started his Test career as he meant to go on with a yellow card for stamping against France on his debut and has since been banned for eye-gouging Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon and head-butting All Blacks scrum-half Jimmy Cowan. Nevertheless, was a key member of the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup-winning second row with Victor Matfield.
Sebastien Chabal (France)
A clean-cut, smooth-shaven fringe player at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, he became a cult hero when France hosted RWC 2007 after growing his hair and a beard to earn a host of nicknames including ‘Caveman’ and ‘The Anaesthetist’, the latter due to his crunching tackles. The All Blacks could vouch for that in 2007.
Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
Described by former England captain Will Carling as “a nasty, ultra-competitive winner”, few packs got the better of New Zealand when ‘Fitzy’ was skipper, which he was for a record 51 times in 92 Tests between 1986 and 1997. His hardness was exemplified in 1992, when he spat out bits of teeth after being punched by Ireland hooker Steve Smith and carried on!
Scott Gibbs (Wales)
Few British Lions followers will forget his celebrated run through giant Springbok prop Os du Randt or his dump tackle on Andre Snyman in 1997. The dual-code international centre was also a barrel-chested symbol of defiance for Wales in the 1991 and 1999 World Cups, and earned the nickname ‘Car Crash’ for his physical style.
Martin Johnson (England)
The England manager may look the picture of sophistication now in his suit, but in his days as his country’s World Cup-winning captain those eyebrows ensured no-one took any liberties against his team. Evidence of his toughness came in the 2003 win in New Zealand when his pack held out against the All Blacks with two in the sin-bin.
Brian Lima (Samoa)
Nicknamed ‘The Chiropractor’ for a good reason. Springbok fly-half Derick Hougaard, for one, can explain why, after being on the end of a flying hit from the Samoan centre or wing in the 2003 Rugby World Cup clash in Brisbane. But Lima could play a bit too and appeared in five RWC tournaments between 1991 and 2007 before retiring.
Pascal Ondarts (France)
England legend Jason Leonard labels Ondarts as the toughest tight-head prop he ever faced. Ondarts’ Test debut was the ill-tempered ‘Battle of Nantes’ against New Zealand in 1986 and the fiery Basque was involved in many more physical confrontations in his 42 Tests, including the brutal 1991 Rugby World Cup quarter-final with England, which appropriately was his finale.
Wayne Shelford (New Zealand)
‘Buck’ played only 22 Tests, including the 1987 Rugby World Cup, but gained a reputation as one of the hardest ever All Blacks. The former New Zealand skipper and number eight underlined that against France in 1986 when, after having his scrotum ripped and losing four teeth at a ruck, he asked the physio to stitch him up so that he could return to the pitch!
Mick Skinner (England)
Known as ‘The Munch’ because of his fierce tackling, the former back rower earned global renown with an extraordinary hit on Marc Cecillon in the 1991 Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris, which not only stopped the France forward scoring a try but also drove him back five metres. It was a game-changing moment, as England went on to win 19-10.
Andre Venter (South Africa)
It is hard to imagine him as a fearless flanker nowadays after he was tragically struck down by a rare muscle disease and confined to a wheelchair, but between 1996 and 2001 – including the 1999 Rugby World Cup – he was an intimidating presence at 6ft 5in and 228lb who played on the edge for many of his 66 Tests.




Comment 134 - 153 of 153
Well done all Blacks.
What on earth does anyone expect in a game not far removed from all-in wrestling, but without the grace?
Who is the man with the beard above?
where is the godfather of no 8s in this
The hardest by far is.............................................jonny wilkinson,pound for pound the don"""""""
Chabal is not even selected, he's a commentator on french TV this time
Julian White was the hardest @#$% in the game, bar none.
Rugby is still too soft,they should allow sledgehammers and knuckle dusters.
Rugby... a game for neanderthals... what a waste of time
What about hulk hogan and he's 24 inch pythons. Watcha gonna do when hulkmania runs riot all over you. Arghhhh
you forgot the one important fact; American Football is played by the thickest men in the world; as signified by your good self. I notice you only played it after ending up punch drunk from the first two sports
AMERICAN FOOTBALL'S THE GREATEST GAME IN THE WORLD PLAYED BY THE GREATEST ATHLETES IN THE WORLD ! WHAT T##T'S STILL GOING ON ABOUT PADS&HELMETS ? RAY LEWIS AND HUNDRED'S OTHERS WOULD JUST LAUGH AT THAT FRENCH PLAYER WITH A SILLY BEARD ! ALSO I'VE FORGOT MORE ABOUT RUGBY THAN THESE DIVVY'S ON HERE KNOW ! HAVING PLAYED UNION, LEAGUE AND A.F. ! THERE ALL GREAT SPORTS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT BUT AMERICAN FOOTBALL IS PLAYED BY THE BIGGEST! STRONGEST! FASTEST! ATHLETES IN THE WORLD ! ASK MARTIN JOHNSON!
i love when sebastian chabal kicks the black fella down the well and says 'we are sparta!' in the movie '300'
Why is he scary ? Cuz he's got a stupid beard ?
whose the creepy lady ?
Josh Lewsey was fairly hard when he tackled Matt Rogers..... a few sore ribs I seem to recall.
I Knew a Mr Eddie Walter's In Reading area in the 70's 80's he went Bankrupt, when confronted was a coward and, would run from anyone, His father was a drunk and live in a part or reading called Earley.
If it is the same Mr Eddie Walters, you have nothing and are nothing and I would take great delight in given you Another Kicking anytime.
how about the whole tonga fiji team, bloody scary teams, and the hardest of all steve walsh the poncy new zealand ef
Eddie Butler.......only joking, he's a real powder puff.
Being French I can assure you that Chabal, in spite of his look, is far from a nasty/violent player.
For those who can remember Olivier Merle was the player no one would want to face.
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