Ever been at a rugby match and not known what to yell out when? Here's the answer to your prayers: RUGBY SPEAK. A book you can pop in your pocket along with your hip flask and pull out should you feel the need to yell out appropriate abuse from the terraces. There aren't many rules when it comes to grammatically correct rugby terms but the following are paramount if you intend to sound at least a tad informed. The referee is always abbreviated to "Ref." If you were to politely say 'Oh, Referee,' you would probably be escorted from the ground. The personal pronoun "him" is always pronounced " 'em", as in Get 'em!' 'Smash 'em!' and 'Nail 'em!' Your team players are always called by their Christian or nick names, unless they are having a really bad game, when it is okay to use their surname. The opposition players are always called by their surname. Rugby Speak is chock-full of wry observations and hilarious sideline comments. Perfect for bluffers who want to appear educated, this will also be a great gift for the rugby fanatic.
Some examples of classic Rugby Speak:
‘Support! Come on, where’s the support?!’
If one had to pay royalties for overuse of rugby slang, I would be poor thanks to this saying. It’s all I ever say at a game. Lazy? Yes. Ill-informed? Damn right.
‘Get in there ya mongrels!’
Every team has it’s Purse Carrying Nancy Boy. In my soccer team it was me. Should you spot an absurdly clean winger, who, when not plane-watching is sponging his sprigs mid game, yell this at him.
‘Drive!Drive! DRIVE!’
To be used when you see a bunch of grown men huddled together, moving forward slowly in a uniform manner, eyeing the ground as if one has lost a contact lense.
‘Bring back Buck!’
Refers, of course, to the great Buck Shelford. Screaming this cracker out never fails; can even be used at cricket, netball, football matches to add humour should your team be on the end of a grand whipping.
‘Oh, get off the grass you poofter!’
Again, the actuality of two teams achieving such a feat would result in no game at all. This saying is normally directed at a ‘Love to Hate’ player who has tripped over his own feet and claimed a penalty.
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