BEN HOWARD
THE OLD ELTHAMIANS FULLBACK TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND
1. Social media clichés
It's always the same old stuff when it comes to Instagram posts. With rugby players you get things like, ‘good day at the office', ‘great game with a great bunch of lads' … or, if friends are having a good time on holiday, they post a picture with the caption, ‘never coming home'. Why put that when it's clearly not going to happen? Let's have some originality, please!
TRP VERDICT: It's ‘Hello, Room 101', looking forward to visiting you!
2. Cocky youngsters
I reckon the final year of my academy contract at Worcester was the last year of ‘old-school' ways. I once did a whole bus journey for an away trip on my feet making drinks for everyone. Andy Goode loved a ‘6 and a 7' – you had to stir his drink six times one way and seven times another – and he'd watch just to make sure you did it right. All that kind of stuff was part of your initiation into the team and you just accepted it. Unlike today's young players, you had to stay humble and quiet, keep your head down and earn your stripes.
TRP VERDICT: We agree, it makes a total Mocha-ry of rugby's hierarchical system.
3. Whispering
I hate any form of whispering, it just gives me the creeps. It's bad enough when you see it on reality TV when people on Love Island or Celebrity Big Brother are bitching about one another but If I ever hear someone whispering specifically to me, I become instantly uncomfortable.
TRP VERDICT: You get a sweet nothing for this.
