"If he was a footballer he'd be in A&E by now."
Commentator Brian Moore while James Hook was having his dislocated finger popped back into place during Wales v South Africa.


"I don't think you can ever retire from international rugby."

England's Ben Cohen guaranteeing an exciting World Cup in 2047.


The time for reminiscing is after rugby. Then you can sit down and get fat.
Josh Lewsey


I don't know why prop forwards play rugby.

Lionel Weston


Nobody ever beats Wales at rugby, they just score more points
Graham Mourie


The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game.

Derek Robinson

Follow up:

I was worried I might end up on a pizza advert
Ben Kay after a fumble in the rugby world cup final


They always lose when it matters

Bernard Laporte getting it wrong about England in the rugby world cup final in 2003


I thought I would have a quiet pint... and about 17 noisy ones
Gareth Chilcott on playing his last game of rugby for Bath


A game played by fewer than fifteen a side, at least half of whom should be totally unfit

Michael Green


Everybody thinks we should have moustaches and hairy arses, but in fact you could put us all on the cover of Vogue.
Helen Kirk on female rugby teams


A major rugby tour by the British Isles to New Zealand is a cross between a medieval crusade and a prep school outing.

John Hopkins


They were outstanding. They are the best team in the world by one minute
Australian coach, Eddie Jones on England rugby world cup winners (2003)


I'm sure Gavin [Henson] carries it much better than I did. If people knew what I was like in everyday life they'd say 'Sex symbol? My arse!'

Jonny Wilkinson on being a rugby sex symbol


If the game is run properly as a professional game, you do not need 57 old farts running rugby.
Will Carling on the England RFU Executive


You cheat and cheat until you get caught out and then you cheat some more, you've really got to play on that edge

Brent Cockbain on the secret of playing rugby at the top level... obviouly Wales aren't very good at it


Rugby is a thug's game played by gentlemen; soccer is a gentleman's game played by thugs; (Australian) football is a thug's game played by thugs.

Henry Blaha