Rugby Things: 10 Things Every Rugby Player Has Said

If you’ve played rugby, you’ve definitely said at least five of these. If you’ve played for years, you’ve probably said all ten. 

Rugby is a game of courage, teamwork, questionable decisions and occasionally pretending you’re not in pain when you absolutely are.

But beyond the tackles, scrums, and muddy jerseys, there’s a language every rugby player understands.

From the classic excuses to the famous post-match promises, here are 10 things every rugby player has said at some point in their career.

Let’s see how many sound familiar!

1. “I’m Fine!”

You’ve just been tackled, landed somewhere you probably shouldn’t have, and your entire body is questioning your life choices.

A teammate runs over.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!”

You’re absolutely not fine. But you’ve got a reputation to maintain.

Welcome to rugby.

2. “That Was High!”

Every rugby player has disagreed with a referee at least once.

Sometimes the tackle really was high. Sometimes it was perfectly legal. And sometimes you were simply tackled so hard that you’re still trying to figure out what happened.

Either way, someone is shouting, “REF!”

Usually more than once.

3. “One More Sprint!”

It’s the last part of training. Your legs are gone, your lungs are burning and your coach announces one final sprint.

“One more sprint!”

Everyone knows that means at least three more.

And somehow, you’re still there next week.

4. “I Thought You Had It!”

The ball is passed. Two players go for it. Neither player catches it.

They turn to each other.

“I thought you had it!”

It’s a beautiful moment of teamwork, accountability and absolutely no accountability whatsoever.

5. “It Doesn’t Hurt That Much.”

You’ve got bruises in places you didn’t know could get bruised.

Your shoulder hurts. Your legs hurt. Walking down the stairs has become an extreme sport.

Someone asks how you’re feeling.

“Honestly, it doesn’t hurt that much.”

Meanwhile, you’re moving like you’ve aged 40 years overnight.

6. “We Should’ve Won That Game.”

The final whistle blows. Your team has lost by three points.

Everyone knows there were a few mistakes, a missed opportunity and at least one questionable decision.

But in the changing room, there’s only one conclusion:

“We should’ve won that game.”

And honestly? Every rugby team has said it at some point.

7. “I’m Never Drinking Again.”

The post-match celebrations were legendary.

The next morning? Not so much.

Your head hurts, your body hurts, and you’re making promises to yourself that you’ll forget by the next big occasion.

“I’m never drinking again.”

Until the next team celebration, of course.

Famous last words!

8. “Put Me in the Scrum!”

Forwards know this one.

There’s something special about getting ready for a scrum. Eight teammates bind together, the opposition packs down and suddenly it’s a battle of strength, technique, and determination.

“Put me in the scrum!”

Nobody needs to ask twice.

Unless, of course, it’s leg day.

9. “I Could’ve Made That Tackle.”

You’re watching a match from the comfort of your couch.

A player misses a tackle, and suddenly you’re the world’s greatest defensive coach.

“I could’ve made that tackle!”

Of course, you’re saying this while sitting comfortably with snacks, nowhere near a 120-kilogram forward running directly at you.

But from the couch? Absolutely. You had that covered.

10. “Same Time Next Week?”

Training was brutal. The match was exhausting. Your body is begging for a break.

You swear you’re going to take it easy next week.

Then a teammate asks:

“Same time next week?”

And without even thinking about it, you reply:

“Yeah, see you there.”

Because that’s the thing about rugby.

You complain about it. You get hurt playing it. You question your life choices during training.

But you keep coming back.

Because there’s nothing quite like being part of a team.

The Bottom Line

Rugby players might come from different countries, play different positions, and support different teams, but some things are universal.

The excuses. The banter. The questionable decisions. The post-match stories.

And, of course, the absolute certainty that the referee got it wrong.

That’s rugby.

Now we want to hear from you!

Which one have YOU said? And what classic rugby phrase did we miss?

Drop your answer in the comments, tag your teammates, and send this to the one player who says all ten.

Drop In with Naas & Ryan. Bringing rugby people together, one story at a time.