As rugby punters, we’re all used to cursing our luck but what about those poor players who’ve been robbed of some of the biggest opportunities of their careers through the most unfortunate of circumstances.
We take a look at some of the more bizarre examples of how lady luck deserted rugby players when they least expected it.
Dick Greenwood
The father of England World Cup winner Will was ruled out of a Five Nations match against France because of a cut eye, sustained whilst wearing glasses during a game of squash. He never got back in the side and had to settle for five caps.
Martyn Wood
The Yorkshireman is one who should definitely avoid black cats. After travelling halfway around the world to act as injury cover at RWC 2003 but never to see the light of day, Wood injured his neck a couple of years later in a trampolining accident. The scrum-half spent nine months on the sidelines.
Lee Jarvis
Membership of the ‘One Cap Club’ is certainly not exclusive, countless individuals have been discarded by selectors no sooner than they’ve been called up. Welsh fly-half Lee Jarvis’ international career has to be one of the shortest around, though, after he came on for the final minutes against Romania in 1997. The death of Princess Di that weekend meant his debut barely warranted a mention in the papers.
Mike Te'o
The bustling USA Eagles full-back/centre couldn’t roll a six if he tried. Te’o sacrificed his palce in the American rugby sevens Olympics squad to try his hand overseas. He signed for London Scottish on a short-term deal in March 2020 but never made it onto the pitch for the Exiles because of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Seabelo Senatla
The South African speedster was on fire at the Rio Olympics in 2016 but his tournament was cut short because of a broken wrist. Senatla suffered the injury after he slipped kicking the ball out to bring his team’s quarter-final to an end and landed awkwardly. The Blitzbokke went on to win bronze but Senatla’s medal was awarded to Francois Hougaard, his replacement. In true rugby style, Hougaard gave his medal to Senatla and said that he deserved it more.
Anthony Allen
A spot of DIY did for the former Leicester and England centre in November 2011. Allen missed a European Cup tie after severing tendons in his hand whilst laying flooring at home.
John O’Meara
The Ireland international withdrew on the morning of the 1954 Wales game as he injured his back reading a newspaper in his hotel bed that morning. Who says players aren’t impacted by what the media writes?!
