Cult heroes

Every team has their own crop of them but after the Leinster game the supporters club folks presented Isa Nacewa with a specially commissioned “Legends tshirt” and hung the print of the legends wall along with the likes of Reggie Corrigan, Dennis Hickie, Girvan Dempsey, BOD, Contepomi etc.

Just wondering, how (if at all) are the legends and cult heroes at your club honoured?

For the record here are a selection of the Legends at Leinster:

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/olsc/merchandise.php

Cult Hero XV:

01 Tendai Mtawarira
02
03 John Hayes
04 Sebastian Chabal
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Rocky Elsom
07 Richie McCaw
08 Xavier Rush
09 Peter Stringer
10 Jonny Wilkinson
11 Jonah Lomu
12 Gavin Henson
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 James Simpson Daniel
15 George North

2 Keith Wood
or Smit

I'd go for the raging spud

Actually Castrogiovanni is a real cult hero too.

No cult hero hookers?

Sure Schalk Brits would fit that mould comfortably. Maligned in his native country, loved by the fans of his club.

A Leinster cult team would be pretty useful:

1. Corrigan
2. Jackman
3. Wright
4. Cullen
5. O’Kelly
6. Elsom
7. Gleeson
8. Heaslip/O’Brien
9. Whittaker
10. Contepomi
11. Hickie
12. Darcy
13. O’Driscoll
14. Horgan
15. Nacewa/Dempsey

When building the Caterpillar stand Tigers fans could vote for a XV to be on the "Walk of Legends" approaching the stadium. Only retired players were eligible.

The full team is: Dusty Hare; John Duggan, Sir Clive Woodward, Paul Dodge, Rory Underwood; Bleddyn Jones, Austin Healey; Graham Rowntree, Peter Wheeler, Steve Redfern, Martin Johnson, Matt Poole Graham Willars, David Matthews and Dean Richards.

Surprised there was no Neil Back!

Cheers Mick - yup Schalk Brits would fit. Couldn't think of it.

In Ireland we tend to hype up everyone into cult heroes.

01 Peter Clohessy
02 Keith Wood
03 John Hayes
04 Mick Galwey
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Alan Quinlan
07 David Wallace
08 Anthony Foley
09 Peter Stringer
10 Ronan O'Gara
11 Keith Earls
12 Trevor Halstead
13 Mike Mullins
14 Doug Howlett
15 Paul Warwick

I'd say you could have a pre-profession cult heros, Wehn it was prob harder to become a cult hero as less games and tv coverage, and after pro era cult heros, cos Willie John Mcbride and Jack Kyle have to make the cult heros list

Chainsaw XV

01 Brendan Laney
02 Brendan Laney
03 Brendan Laney
04 Brendan Laney
05 Brendan Laney
06 Brendan Laney
07 Brendan Laney
08 Brendan Laney
09 Brendan Laney
10 Brendan Laney
11 Brendan Laney
12 Brendan Laney
13 Brendan Laney
14 Brendan Laney
15 Brendan Laney

Id sell my soul to watch that team play.

thread closed.

I agree Kingshu. However at 23 I don't have any first hand knowledge of them.

1. BJ Botha
2. Shane Byrne
3. Castrogiovanni
4. Justin Harrison
5. Sebastian Chabal
6. Alan Quinlan
7. Gorgonzilla
8. Xavier Rush
9. Augustine Pichot
10. Filipe Contepomi
11. Simon Geohegan
12. Paddy Wallace
13. Mark Banahan
14. Isa Nacewa
15. Geordan Murphy

In recent years Tigers fans have nigh on worshipped Geordan Myurphy, I was once sitting in the CAT stand watching an academy game being played after the first team game and as Geordie walked up the stand to a function he was given a standing ovation. Not a small one either as the gent stopped to sign every autograph on the way up.

Castro is the darling of the Welford Rd crowd, look back at last season when thousands came to games in Castro masks to try and convince him to stay.

Red stag I never saw him play either, but the fact that we know who he is and still talk about him is sure, to make him by defination a cult hero.

I have'nt picked a set pattern for choosing playersm just the ones I liked, or have hearld a lot about.

01 Peter Clohessy
02 Keith Wood
03 Syd Millar
04 Willie John McBride
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Francois Pienaar
07 Richie McCaw
08 Anthony Foley
09 Alessandro Troncon
10 Diego Dominguez
11 Hickie
12 Mike Gibson
13 BoD
14 Lomu
15 Serge Blanco

Philip Matthews (Ulster, Ireland and Lions now BBC commentator) is a cult hero for me. Let me explain:

When I was 11 years old (1991) I had been playing rugby for three years at the insistence of my father. I really wasn't sure about the game as I felt I was much better at football. Then the world cup came to dublin and my dad brought me to a few of the matches including Ireland v Japan and Australia v New Zealand which were great but it was the Ireland v Australia game that cemented my allegiance with rugby forever. It was unforgettable and Matthews captained Ireland that day, I remember his big mop of curly hair as vividly as his incredibly passionate performance.

20 years later I graduated from NCI and at the conferring ceremony Dr Philip Matthews handed me my cert. He is now bald but every bit as passionate about his current job as president of NCI and has been a real inspiration to me both in rugby and in life. I spoke to him over a coffee after the ceremony and told him what a honour it had been to receive my qualification from one of my heroes and he told me all about his experience as captain that day v Australia. Funny to think only weeks before I finally met him Ireland finally beat the Aussies at the wc.

He might not be the obvious choice for a lot of people but he remains the Ireland captain to have come closest to a wc semi in one of the most memorable rugby matches of all time.

Gary Teichmann was a cult hero at Newport RFC and Rod Snow was too at Newport RFC and then latterly the Dragons after regionalism. Both were flown over for the Dragons v Blues game the other night as it was the official opening of the new stand but the game was called off because of the million gallons of water that suddenly fell from the sky. Shame as it would have been a great night.

I think Faletau has all the makings of a cult hero, and Aled Brew is a crowd favourite with his own crowd noise ('Breeeeeeeeeeeew' said the same as 'Booooooooooooo'. Must be quite confusing for the lad!).

leinsterbaby wrote:Philip Matthews (Ulster, Ireland and Lions now BBC commentator) is a cult hero for me. Let me explain:

When I was 11 years old (1991) I had been playing rugby for three years at the insistence of my father. I really wasn't sure about the game as I felt I was much better at football. Then the world cup came to dublin and my dad brought me to a few of the matches including Ireland v Japan and Australia v New Zealand which were great but it was the Ireland v Australia game that cemented my allegiance with rugby forever. It was unforgettable and Matthews captained Ireland that day, I remember his big mop of curly hair as vividly as his incredibly passionate performance.

20 years later I graduated from NCI and at the conferring ceremony Dr Philip Matthews handed me my cert. He is now bald but every bit as passionate about his current job and has been a real inspiration to me both in rugby and in life. I spoke to him over a coffee after the ceremony and told him what a honour it had been to receive my qualification from one of my heroes and he told me all about his experience as captain that day v Australia. Funny to think only weeks before I finally met him Ireland finally beat the Aussies at the wc.

He might not be the obvious choice for a lot of people but he remains the Ireland captain to have come closest to a wc semi in one of the most memorable rugby matches of all time.

Class!

Big Trevor Leotta for Wasps.

A cult hero if ever there was one an unmistakable character in more ways than one and capable of massive hits. Always raised a cheer at Wasps.
Also one of the most friendly and likeable fellas you are ever likely to meet.

Also scored the winning try in one of the most memorable club matches of all time Munster v Wasps HC 2004 semi at Lansdown Road. The lead changed hands so many times and how many teams come out on top against Munster in games like that!
A dim distant memory for Wasps fans now unfortunately.

I'd suggest David 'Dai' Duckham.

If by cult we mean players that hold a special place in their club fans' esteem, the ones the club isn't the same without, then here's an attempt at a Quins one:

1. Ceri Jones (Joe Marler closing very quickly)
2. Tani Fuga (a real Quin, even more so than Woody or BCM)
3. Jason Leonard (though we still feel fond of Mike Ross)
4. Olly Kohn (he gave us the Jolly Hog)
5. Paul Ackford (a tough call with George Robson)
6. Andre Vos
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Nick Easter
9. Nick Duncombe (though you could make a case for Andy Gomarsall)
10. Adrian Stoop (he gave us rugby as we know it. Nick Evans comes close, though)
11. Uuuuugo!
12. Will Greenwood
13. George Lowe (we think he's hugely underrated)
14. Lots of options but I'll go for Seb Stegmann for the way he's come back from 2 years of injury
15. Mike Brown

Ref: Romain Poite (Christophe Berdos and Brian Moore close behind)

Reihana for Saints would be a good FB option

Hanley for Sale (still the premiership's leading try scorer despite retiring at 28)

Hazell at Gloucester

Casey at Irish

Sanderson at Warriors

Waters at Wasps

The Fun Bus for Quins

At Bath and off the top of my head

Bell, Grewcock, Zak Feauniti, Dan Lyle, Jo Maddock, Graham Dawe, David Trick, Matt Perry, Stuart Barnes

Bathite wrote:At Bath and off the top of my head

Bell, Grewcock, Zak Feauniti, Dan Lyle, Jo Maddock, Graham Dawe, David Trick, Matt Perry, Stuart Barnes

What about Jeremy Guscott. Born in Bath, played for Bath his whole career, Lions Legend etc.

Xavier Rush
Martyn Williams
Ben Blair

For the Blues.

Stan Wright at Leinster? Muller at Ulster?

Sadly Stan is at Stade now.

Stade have/had some cult heroes themselves:

Diego Dominguez
Sergio Parisse
Agustín Pichot
Juan Martín Hernández
Fabien Galthié
Marc Lièvremont (according to Marc Lièvremont)
Radike Samo
Christophe Dominici
Roland Garros

Welsh cult hero 15

15 JPR - ran 30 yards to punch Springbok forwards when '99' called.
14 Jarrett - 4 tries on international debut
13 Ring - backheel drop goals from the 22
12 Grav - filled Stradey as a player and for his funeral
11 Clive Rees - short, stocky flier with long hair and Mexican moustache.
10 Aled Williams - the best outside half not to be capped for Wales
9 Ray 'Chico' Hopkins - played at the same time as Gareth Edwards

1 Stuart Evans - carried 4 Englishman on his back to score a try
2 Bobby Windsor - where do you start?
3 Adam Jones - ditto
4 Phill May - didn't get the caps he deserved when he deserved them
5 Jim Scarlet - Thorn? Botha? Pah! THE Enforcer.
6 Mark Perego - axe wielding madman who believed in hugs not drugs
8 Mervyn Davies - everybody's heard of 'the Swerve'
7 Lyn Jones - classic openside, irreverent madcap loon, but as a coach got the best out of Henson.

Mark Ring is a great call.

Chris Ashton. Ah, bugger just read back and it's CULT

roddersm wrote:1. BJ Botha
2. Shane Byrne
3. Castrogiovanni
4. Justin Harrison
5. Sebastian Chabal
6. Alan Quinlan
7. Gorgonzilla
8. Xavier Rush
9. Augustine Pichot
10. Filipe Contepomi
11. Simon Geohegan
12. Paddy Wallace
13. Mark Banahan
14. Isa Nacewa
15. Geordan Murphy

I'd say Mark Banahan is a real cult hero all right Quinny is definitely one he was way underappreciated.

Bathite wrote:At Bath and off the top of my head

Bell, Grewcock, Zak Feauniti, Dan Lyle, Jo Maddock, Graham Dawe, David Trick, Matt Perry, Stuart Barnes

No Guscott?

And what about Victor Ubogu?? He must be a bath cult hero....

Glas, Byron Hayward at 10. A boxer who just wanted to be an outside half.

Bath cult hero has to be Gareth "Coochy" Chilcott - LINK

All we need is a team of Julian Whites! A team of Julian Whites! A team of Julian Whites!

leinsterbaby wrote:

Bathite wrote:At Bath and off the top of my head

Bell, Grewcock, Zak Feauniti, Dan Lyle, Jo Maddock, Graham Dawe, David Trick, Matt Perry, Stuart Barnes

What about Jeremy Guscott. Born in Bath, played for Bath his whole career, Lions Legend etc.

Great player, but probably described by a word very similar to cult!

No mention of Filo Tiatia?

Har har har... I thought you were messing first Mickado but it looks like the Ross O'Carroll Kelly brigade have taken over Leinster supporters. Roysh goies who are we going to make a leg this toime...loike girv the swerve, omg he is just sooo great...leg,

You couldn't make it up

Wade Dooley. Thats officer Dooley to you.........

Heres my World XV Cult Legends team

1.Jason Leonard
2.Fitzpatrick
3.Castrogiavani
4.Martin Johnson
5.Eagles
6.Serge Betson
7.Mcaw
8.Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio,

9.Greegan
10.Carlos Spenser
11.Tuilagi
12.BOD
13.Greenwood
14.J.Robinson
15.Geordan Murphy

That's the most and I mean MOST boring list of cult heroes I think I've ever seen Auk!

Fitzpatrick couldn't be a more mainstream folk hero! That's not the same as being a cult hero!

Glas a du wrote:That's the most and I mean MOST boring list of cult heroes I think I've ever seen Auk!

Fitzpatrick couldn't be a more mainstream folk hero! That's not the same as being a cult hero!

Bearing in mind Im Fresh out of my teens i have not had the privilege to watch a fair few of the grates play rugby. (Believe me i would have loved to have seen the lions 99 call in real time! ) and as for Fitzpatrick i honestly couldn't think of another Hooker !!!

And as for you team i honestly Dont know any of those names! Apart From JPR and thats mainly because of the rumours ive heard of him beeing a top P*!K (And being part of the 99 call of course)

glas a du
Suirely Sean fitzpatrick can be a cult hero hes a good Catholic boy,like Xavier Rush or are catholics not cultish enough?

EngInAuck wrote:

Glas a du wrote:That's the most and I mean MOST boring list of cult heroes I think I've ever seen Auk!

Fitzpatrick couldn't be a more mainstream folk hero! That's not the same as being a cult hero!

Bearing in mind Im Fresh out of my teens i have not had the privilege to watch a fair few of the grates play rugby. (Believe me i would have loved to have seen the lions 99 call in real time! ) and as for Fitzpatrick i honestly couldn't think of another Hooker !!!

And as for you team i honestly Dont know any of those names! Apart From JPR and thats mainly because of the rumours ive heard of him beeing a top P*!K (And being part of the 99 call of course)

I give you my appology, I hadn't realised you were so young. In which case it's a good effort. Ask Emack2 , I believe he's the other end of the spectrum!

As to JPR, yes he was a Tinkywinky, but that's what gives him cult status, the fact that you think he's a hero for all the wring reasons. Come to think if it Fitzpatrick developed the 'chatting to the ref' bit. He was a Tinkywinky and all!

Mickey Skinner is a cult figure.

Imperialbigdave wrote:Chainsaw XV

01 Brendan Laney
02 Brendan Laney
03 Brendan Laney
04 Brendan Laney
05 Brendan Laney
06 Brendan Laney
07 Brendan Laney
08 Brendan Laney
09 Brendan Laney
10 Brendan Laney
11 Brendan Laney
12 Brendan Laney
13 Brendan Laney
14 Brendan Laney
15 Brendan Laney

Id sell my soul to watch that team play.

thread closed.

Completely agree.

I think that there is one pub near Murrayfield that still has pictures of the Chainsaw in the urinals. Good to have somewhere to aim.

For the uninitiated, Laney occupies cult status amongst Scotland fans. Like Zippy from Rainbow, he was so astonishingly bad, he was good. And that is surely the definition of a cult hero.

PenfroPete wrote:Chris Ashton. Ah, bugger just read back and it's CULT

Superb, Pete

For the uninitiated, Laney occupies cult status amongst Scotland fans. Like Zippy from Rainbow, he was so astonishingly bad, he was good. And that is surely the definition of a cult hero.

Surely on that basis there's room for Parks, Morrison, De Luca and Danielli in this team...

Glas a du wrote:

For the uninitiated, Laney occupies cult status amongst Scotland fans. Like Zippy from Rainbow, he was so astonishingly bad, he was good. And that is surely the definition of a cult hero.

Surely on that basis there's room for Parks, Morrison, De Luca and Danielli in this team...

Oh no, Glas.

There's mediocre.

There's bad.

There's appalling.

There's 'tear off your own leg just so that you have something to throw' appalling.

There's fifty feet of condensed animal faeces.

Then there's The Chainsaw.

And I give you, the Scarlets:

15 Justin Thomas (when at Cardiff )
14 Ieuan Evans - the Carmarthen Cowboy
13 Silesi Finau - very religious bloke
12 Simon Davies - for that tackle on Roebuck
11 Carwyn Davies - record for tries in a season
10 Carwyn James - won't even try to give enough reasons
9 Jonathan Griffiths - made Jonathan Davies

1 Iestyn Thomas - criminally overlooked by Wales
2 Dai Fox - ditto
3 Laurence Delaney - from when you measured a man by his capacity to hold his pint
4 Phill May - see Iestyn Thomas
5 Phill Davies - silky skills from a giant man
6 Quinell - all of them!
8 Emyr 'Tarw' Lewis (pre Cardiff)
7 David Pickering (see Laney above)

George, the ones named all get past the third level at least.