ROOM 101
THE DARLINGTON MOWDEN PARK FRONT-ROWER TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND
1. Over-familiar strangers
I don't like it when people call you ‘mate' when you've never met them before. That said, I must confess to calling people ‘buddy' from time to time as I'm terrible at remembering people's names. If my wife is with me, I'll introduce her hoping that'll prompt the person we're talking to, to introduce themselves and put me out of my misery. Separate to this, recently I was in the sauna at the gym I go to, and a bloke leans over to me and says, ‘you're Ralph Appleby, aren't you?' I had no idea who he was. He then asked me where I knew him from. School? No. Uni? No. Cricket? No. It was very irritating. Despite this, he proceeded to tell me his whole life story. After 15 minutes, I made my excuses and left. I'm still puzzled by the whole episode to this day!
TRP VERDICT: It's check mate from us I'm afraid.
3. Rugby nauses
By this I mean people who feel the need to talk about rugby endlessly. My irritation crescendos on a Sunday when I'm try to have a coffee with a friend/walk and we bump into a rugby nause. It will inevitably end up in me impatiently trying to move the conversation on from the new goal line drop out law. I don't care!
TRP VERDICT: Sorry, this is being box-kicked into touch.
2. Speak erphones in public
I literally have no idea why people walk down the street and have their phone on loudspeaker so everyone else can hear their conversation. I think this annoy- ing practice probably goes in tandem with people subjecting others to loud music on trains. I don't want to hear your “banging tune” MATE…
TRP VERDICT: Thanks for going public with this, it 's going in.
