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20 Worst Rugby Player Injuries of All Time

Originally published by Hamisi on May 2023 and Updated by Beatrice J on March 2024

Rugby, a sport renowned for its brutality and bone-jarring collisions, has experienced its fair share of terrible mishaps throughout the years. Rugby players have had broken bones and torn ligaments as a result of being physically pushed over their limitations.

Examining the top 20 worst rugby player injuries ever is this incredible collection. Prepare yourself as we relate incidents involving limb fractures, joint dislocations, and severe concussions that have forever changed the path of the game. 

1. June 18, 2005 Match up Between The British and Irish Lions

Brian O’Driscoll. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Bring to memory the magnificent Lancaster Park in Christchurch on June 18, 2005. No Lions Test had ever begun with as much controversy as this one did when Mealamu and Umaga spear-tackled the team’s captain, Brian O’Driscoll, after clearing him out. Deliberate? Premeditated? Nobody can ever fully know the answer to that, but Umaga and the All Blacks’ lack of remorse made an already unpleasant meal much more so.

2. Corne Krige’s Five Seconds of Madness, 2002

Matt Dawson. , , via Wikimedia Commons

A rather overconfident South African captain embarked on a wrecking spree in the span of five seconds. Hands, arms, and shoulders went back and forth as the mad Krige felt that MMA rules should apply to this fight rather than World Rugby rules, with England scrum-half Matt Dawson being the object of his wrath.

Rudolf Straeuli, the coach of the Springboks, really said during the post-match news conference that “we also have concussions – do you think we give ourselves concussions?” to everyone willing to listen. A close look at the footage would show that they had, since one of the Krige haymakers completely landed on Andre Pretorius, the fly-half. At the end of England’s 53-3 victory over the opposition, Krige said the menacing phrase, “see you in Perth” (2003 World Cup). He did run into them in Perth, but he also lost that one.

3. Damage To Lewis Moody’s Eye

Moody Lewis. , , via Wikimedia Commons

When Lewis Moody and Charlie Sharples collided, Lewis Moody’s eyesight was permanently damaged. Although the amount of the damage does not appear to be severe in this picture, the victim afterwards stated that his vision would “never be perfect again.”

4. The 1987 Wake-Up Call Against Wales by Wade Dooley

Wade Dooley, a former police officer in Blackpool, is now a citing commissioner. Those who are aware of Wade’s penchant for gratuitous on-field violence may be curious as to what it would take to get a warning from the big man. Judging on the video below, you can infer that, at the very least, you would need to be carrying a hidden weapon.

One Dooley fist hit on Phil Davies’ nose and face, totally fracturing the Welshman’s jaw in the process. This brawl signaled the brief reign of Bath scrum-half Richard Hill as captain. His animated team talk is reported to have fueled England’s pre-match rage.

5. The Flying Head-Butt Keven Mealamu Delivered to England in 2010

Keven Mealamu. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Okay, as a skulduggery deed, this was very much at the top of the list. Mealamu, a guy with a reputation for wanton violence, lost all self-control and purposefully head butted Lewis Moody, the English captain. Curiously, the All Blacks’ response to this planned and intentional act of thuggery was not to apologize to the injured Moody but rather to spend the next 72 hours touting Mealamu’s volunteer efforts in the community and “good character”.

6. Marius Bosman faced Vs The British and Irish Lions

The rugby community is honoring Doddie Weir’s life appropriately despite the fact that he is no longer with us. It was his humor on the landmark Living with the Lions DVD that solidified his position in rugby wit and legend, but on the other side of that, he displayed evident anguish when he was forced to quit the Lions tour due to the thuggery of lock Bosman who suffered a fractured knee. After that, nobody really heard of Bosman and, to be honest, nobody really wanted to. Even the people of South Africa were humiliated by his behavior. On the other side, Weir and his bravery came to represent everything admirable about rugby. Not every hero dons a cape.

7. The 1990 Haymaker by Federico Mendez Versus England

Los Pumas’ reputation for playing tough rugby grew alongside their rise to prominence as a global rugby force. They visited England for a test match in November 1990; at the time, England was seen as a formidable foe who played by the rules.

It was ironic that Wade Dooley’s partner in the opening round, Argentine hooker Mendez, delivered an absolutely devastating punch on Paul Ackford, an innocent police inspector. Jeff Probyn grabbing Diego Cash’s manhood during the previous ruck set off the incident, and Mendez, angered by the action, opted to vent on whoever was around, in this case Ackford.

8. The 1987 King Hit by Wayne Shelford Versus Wales

Wayne Shelford. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Before the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, this game was intended as a casual warm-up, but it was hampered by niggles as both sides looked to regain their form. Wayne Shelford, one of the All Black 8, wasn’t exactly a wimp. He actually was caught in the bottom of a ruck when representing New Zealand versus France in the 1986 match that became known as the Battle of Nantes, and an errant kick ripped through his scrotum, exposing his testicles.

With 38 pieces of cotton keeping his privates together, Shelford, being Shelford, just gave the team physio instructions to sew him up and then quickly returned to action. So when Huw Richards, a Welsh lock, started another altercation against Wales, Shelford stepped in and delivered a king-hit blow that would have made Manny Pacquiao happy, knocking Richards down cold and leaving him unconscious.

There was even worse to come, when Australian referee Kerry Fitzgerald decided to dismiss Richards while strangely letting Shelford to continue on the field after physio Tudor Jones successfully revived the Welsh lock by heavily dousing his face with water. Richards did not play for Wales again; eight weeks later, Shelford won the world championship.

9. Lewis Moody’s 2005 Incident with Samoa and The Red Mist

Although we at Planet Rugby like Lewis and appreciate all of his wise counsel over the last 15 years, one of his less stellar moments in the white jersey was being the first English player to be dismissed at Twickenham. In this case, it was for hitting the massive Samoan Alesana Tuilagi, a colleague on the Tigers, after England wing Mark Cueto was knocked out in the air and completely landed on his head and neck. Sure, Moodos was furious at how his friend had been treated, and he was reacting to the danger Cueto was in, but he deserved to get angry for the blows he threw.

Lewis will always remember the blows he threw back, though, saying, “I always wondered why Semo Sititi was allowed to stay on the pitch,” with a chuckle. He threw 11 punches throughout the altercation, and the only reason I know this is because all 11 of them hit me in the bloodied nose.

10. Bakkies Botha Shoulder Charge Against the British Lions’ Adam Jones, 2009

Without paying homage to Springbok lock Botha, the king of cheap shots, no skulduggery reel would be complete. We could have selected Bakkies’ head butt on Jimmy Cowan, but we’ll accept that it was merely a way for him to say “Howzit” to his friends. Instead, we’ll choose this shoulder charge on Lions tight head Jones as our example of Botha’s blatant thugsty.

After the event, Jones’ shoulder was completely dislocated, requiring extensive surgery to repair. “You’ve seen that clip in Lethal Weapon 2 when Mel Gibson bangs his shoulder back into place on a wall,” the prop asked after the game.

11. Philippe Sella’s Blindside Maneuvers in 1990’s Match Versus Australia

Sella isn’t the first name that springs to mind when thinking about Gallic skulduggery. On the other hand, the Australia vs. France series was tainted by violence from the beginning to the end. Abdelatif Benazzi received red cards in earlier Test matches on the tour, and there were other less-than-entertaining situations, but this Brisbane Test was different.

The blindside right hook from Sella caused Australian lock Peter FitzSimons to fall prone on the ground in a knockout punch of world title proportions in the midst of a 15 on 15 melee. FitzSimons felt quite comfortable giving it out to any player wearing blue.

While Sella is the focus of attention for his shady activities, towards the opening of the fight, we can witness Wallaby hooker Phil Kearns, who weighs around 20 stone, engage in a battle of wills with the little Henri Sanz, a French scrum-half, and lose fairly decisively. Sanz had previously held the title of top French amateur flyweight boxer; Kearns presumably wasn’t aware of this before to the fight, but he very definitely was after Sanz crushed him.

12. Breaking Your Leg Twice

Martin Groenewald, a South African youngster, broke his leg in two places over the weekend while playing in a game that was broadcast live across the country. It was horrifying to witness, but the 18-year-old has now undergone surgery and is doing well. Thousands of people turned out to see the event over the weekend, but regrettably the 50-28 Grey Bloem triumph that everyone was talking about following the game wasn’t actually the outcome since Groenewald had possibly one of the worst leg injuries in rugby history.

He fractured his tibia and fibula. He has allegedly signed a deal with the Blue Bulls. Everyone could clearly see and, it appeared, hear as the referee abruptly stopped the game and players from both sides turned away in disbelief after realizing what had occurred.

13. A Fracture In The Eye Socket

Census Johnston, a forward for Toulouse and Samoa, has been sidelined for at least three weeks after breaking his eye socket upon returning to club rugby after the Rugby World Cup. After suffering a catastrophic right eye injury in Saturday’s Top 14 encounter between Toulouse and Union Bordeaux-Begles, the 34-year-old was forced off the field after 33 minutes. After that, he needed surgery, which will likely prevent him from playing in the upcoming two Championship games as well as the opening round of the European Cup. The powerful Samoan sent a photo on Twitter with the comment, “Early Halloween,” showing the horrific wound that caused his right eye to go closed and discolored. Along with emoticons for pandas and pumpkins, it’s time to rest up.

14. The Gashed Nose of Alexandre Dumoulin

Alexandre Dumoulin. , , via Wikimedia Commons

In Racing 92’s Champions Cup quarterfinal victory against Toulon on Sunday, French rugby great Alexandre Dumoulin received a horrifying face injury. In the eleventh minute, while attempting to make a tackle, the center’s nose was cut open by a stud, forcing him off the field. Dumoulin, a member of the France team that lost to New Zealand in the World Cup quarterfinals last year, posted a photo of his injuries on Instagram. According to the gaping wound, the 26-year-old may have a scar on his face for the rest of his life as a reminder of the tough struggle that his team won 19-16 to go to the semifinals.

15. Jonathan Thurston Injury Issues

Thurston was a member of the 2004 Premiership-winning team, coming off the bench in the squad’s 16-13 victory over the Sydney Roosters in the NRL Grand Final, despite never establishing himself as a starter and only participating in 29 games over the course of his three seasons at Canterbury-Bankstown. 

Injury issues plagued Thurston during the entire year of 2017. He sustained a calf injury in the Cowboys’ 16-26 loss to the Tigers in round 6 of the 2017 NRL season. He overcame the setback in time to represent Australia in the 2017 ANZAC Test. He had a shoulder injury during the Test match that sidelined him for eight weeks. He was injured in round 14 of the Cowboys’ 32-6 victory against the Eels, however he wasn’t able to recuperate in time for the opening State of Origin game.

16.Brian O’Driscoll’s shoulder injury during the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour

Brian O’Driscoll’s shoulder injury wasn’t just the injury itself that made headlines but the context in which it occurred, adding layers of drama and controversy to an already intense rivalry. As the Lions embarked on their highly anticipated tour to New Zealand, O’Driscoll, a rugby icon revered for his skill, leadership, and unwavering determination, was poised to make a significant impact. However, fate dealt a cruel blow just minutes into the opening Test match.

A controversial tackle by New Zealand’s Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu resulted in O’Driscoll’s dislocated shoulder, abruptly halting his tour and igniting a storm of debate. The injury not only sidelined one of the Lions’ key players but also sparked discussions about player safety and the legality of certain tackling techniques.

17.Jean de Villiers’ knee injury during a Test match against Wales in 2015

Jean de Villiers’ knee injury during a Test match against Wales in 2015 was not just a blow to the South African rugby team but also a heart-wrenching moment for fans worldwide. In a sport where physicality is paramount, injuries are an unfortunate reality.

The sight of de Villiers being stretchered off the field not only signaled the end of his participation in that particular match but also cast a shadow over his future in the sport. For South Africa, losing their captain and talismanic figure was a significant setback, both emotionally and strategically.  Ultimately, while the knee injury may have temporarily sidelined de Villiers, it did not diminish his legacy or his impact on the game.

18.Sam Cane’s neck injury during a match against South Africa in 2020

Sam Cane‘s neck injury during a match against South Africa in 2020 sent shockwaves through the rugby world and served as a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with the sport. Cane, known for his physicality and commitment on the field as the captain of the All Blacks, found himself in a terrifying moment that brought the game to a standstill.

The incident unfolded during a routine tackle, yet the aftermath was anything but routine. Cane remained motionless on the ground, prompting immediate concern from players, coaches, and spectators alike. As medical professionals rushed to his aid, the gravity of the situation became all too apparent.

In the aftermath of the incident, the rugby community rallied around Cane, offering support and well-wishes for his recovery.

19.Paul O’Connell’s arm injury during the 2015 Rugby World Cup

Paul O’Connell‘s arm injury during the 2015 Rugby World Cup was a devastating blow not just to the Irish team but to rugby fans around the world. The injury occurred during a fiercely contested match, a scenario all too familiar in the high-stakes arena of international rugby. As O’Connell went into contact, the resulting impact caused significant damage to his arm, immediately signaling the severity of the situation.

Despite his undeniable toughness, O’Connell was forced to concede to the injury, leaving the field and casting a shadow over Ireland’s campaign. As O’Connell embarked on a journey of rehabilitation and recovery, the rugby world watched with bated breath, hoping for a swift return to the sport he loved.

20.Thinus Delport’s broken leg during a Super Rugby match in 2004

Thinus Delport’s broken leg incident stands as a stark reminder of the physical toll and risks associated with rugby, highlighting the inherent dangers players face every time they step onto the field. Delport, a talented South African fullback, found himself in a harrowing moment during a Super Rugby match in 2004, an incident that would reverberate throughout the rugby community.

The circumstances surrounding the injury were all too familiar in the fast-paced, high-impact world of rugby. Delport, known for his agility and speed, was in the midst of a frenetic passage of play when a collision resulted in the fracturing of his leg. The anguish and distress etched on his face mirrored the collective shock felt by players, coaches, and spectators alike.

These 20 worst rugby player injuries, which range from broken bones to severed limbs, serve as a disturbing reminder of the harsh toll the sport can have on its participants.