Biarritz and France No. 8 Imanol Harinordoquy played with a protector over his broken nose against Munster in a 2010 Heineken Cup semifinal match.
Rugby's bruising encounters —
Biarritz and France No. 8 Imanol Harinordoquy played with a protector over his broken nose against Munster in a 2010 Heineken Cup semifinal match.
The eyes have it: A New Zealand player gets a close-up view of Bakkies Botha's digits, as the South African lock crosses the line between aggression and assault.
Rugby's bruising encounters —
The eyes have it: A New Zealand player gets a close-up view of Bakkies Botha's digits, as the South African lock crosses the line between aggression and assault.
Ireland's Ronan O'Gara sports a classic shiner training with the British and Irish Lions in South Africa in 2009. The same player was on the receiving end of a furious attack from Australian Duncan McRae during a match in 2007.
Rugby's bruising encounters —
Ireland's Ronan O'Gara sports a classic shiner training with the British and Irish Lions in South Africa in 2009. The same player was on the receiving end of a furious attack from Australian Duncan McRae during a match in 2007.
A red rose to a bull: England's Mike Tindall bears the scars and a torn shirt after finding himself on the end of a few boots while at the bottom of a ruck.
Rugby's bruising encounters —
A red rose to a bull: England's Mike Tindall bears the scars and a torn shirt after finding himself on the end of a few boots while at the bottom of a ruck.
England lock Simon Shaw, with something attached to the right side of his head that vaguely resembles an ear, almost single-handedly tries to stop an Irish maul.
Rugby's bruising encounters —
England lock Simon Shaw, with something attached to the right side of his head that vaguely resembles an ear, almost single-handedly tries to stop an Irish maul.
Former England loosehead prop and current England scrum coach Graham Rowntree. Never a man to do things by halves, he is owner of perhaps the finest pair of cauliflower ears in rugby.
Offences against cauliflowers —
Former England loosehead prop and current England scrum coach Graham Rowntree. Never a man to do things by halves, he is owner of perhaps the finest pair of cauliflower ears in rugby.
From a different era: Former New Zealand captain Wayne "Buck" Shelford has gone down in history after playing through an injury that would makes most want to give the game up. His scrotum was torn by an opponent's errant stud in a match against France, but was stitched up on the sidelines and continued to play on.
Rugby's bruising encouters —
From a different era: Former New Zealand captain Wayne "Buck" Shelford has gone down in history after playing through an injury that would makes most want to give the game up. His scrotum was torn by an opponent's errant stud in a match against France, but was stitched up on the sidelines and continued to play on.
Spear tackles are classified as dangerous play in rugby because of the potential for serious injury.
Rugby's bruising encounters —
Spear tackles are classified as dangerous play in rugby because of the potential for serious injury.
A scrum pops up between Australian and Samoan forwards. The dark arts of the scrum are a mystery for most -- it's a place where biting, gouging and dirty tricks can go unnoticed by referees.
Rugby's bruising encounters —
A scrum pops up between Australian and Samoan forwards. The dark arts of the scrum are a mystery for most -- it's a place where biting, gouging and dirty tricks can go unnoticed by referees.