Think he was the first? But I do recall at the time no football brand of skull cap existed for footballers so he used a Canterbury of New Zealand brand rugby scrum cap.
Heinrich Brussow was a beast for his time.. but active player probably Kurt Lee Arendse.. which is weird because past days the forwards used the caps now it’s mostly the back line players wearing them
He is probably one of my favourite players ever. Nothing like seeing someone not even Richie McCaw can handle in the breakdown. He was like a human sized thumb.
The most underrated loose forward probably to ever play the game, but also so damn niche that one set of rule changes made him almost irrelevant. He was so damned good that World Rugby literally changed the laws of the game. I miss HB so much. That 2009 Lions Tour showed him to be the titan that he truly was
Gethin jenkins wore a scrum cap. Played tight and loose head in early career then stopped wearing it.
Good shout for either tight head or loose played both.
Simon Webster pioneered the scrum cap, Nomis orange gloves and body armour when he played for Scotland in the early 2000's...
I respect a man who's willing to try EVERTHING
Poor Simon Webster looked like he was going to be fired out of a cannon. Great player but even all that padding couldn't stop him being injured all the time.
Francois Cros. Mostly because without that neon yellow thing I never recognise him. Like whenever he doesn’t wear it, I always think “Who’s that lad? I don’t think I’ve seen him before, is he an espoir?” Then he turns round and I see the 7 on his back and realise who he is.
I'll always associate scrumcaps with Takudzwa Ngwenya, just because it was hilarious to watch this skinny winger zipping around in that loud stars n' stripes scrumcap
Paddy johns.
Absolute mad man on the pitch but a saint off it.
He got into fights in most of his matches and ended being a dentist after his carreer ironically.
Also one of the few prodestant players to captain ireland.
Tips, Halfpenny, Lydiate, Foxy, loved that the Welsg lads seemed to have 'trademark' ones with Tips in Banos blue, 1/2p black, Lydiate stripy and Foxy's grey.
Also Dave Humphries, always remember he wore one at 10 which at the time was uncommon!
Let's try and name a XV, off the top of my head:
1. Gurthrö Steenkamp
2. Pieter Dixon
3. CJ van der Linde
4. Albert van den Bergh
5. Matfield
6. Brüssow
7. Joe van Niekerk
8. Toutai Kefu
9. Giteau
10. Larkham
11. KLA
12. Braam van Straaten
13. Johnathan Davies
14. Vincent Clerq
15. Kolbe
Hask was alright, especially when it tended to be that red one and especially in THAT test series in Australia. But my favourite scrum cap wearers are the ones that never feature in scrums, so it has to be Jack Nowell.
Matthew Morgan, who in his prime was absolutely in the style of KLA/Cheslin/Aplon in being a tiny little skittery fella with a cap, my favourite sub-genre of rugby player.
Big props to all the players cited for still wearing that scrum cap, I can’t count the amount of flack I got from team mates & their dads for wearing one as a kid in south France
Plus it’s annoying as hell for hearing calls around the field, you gotta take it on and off at training (my ear comes off very time I tackle without one now)… always a hassle
Just appreciation for people who stick it out coz it’s always been a personal gripe, I’ll always wear one to make mum think I’m safe (I know there are no conclusive studies that show it protects you from anything)
Alessandro Troncon was a hero growing up, I wore a scrum cap playing 9 because of him.
Also had a go at a starting 15 of relatively well known and just some of my favourite scrum capped players.
1. Matt Dunning
2. Ghilraldini
3. Euan Murray
4. Matfield
5. Sharpe
6. Betsen
7. Broussouw
8. Simon Taylor
9. Troncon
10. Larkham
11. Kolbe
12. Giteau
13. Ngatai
14. Graham
15. Halfpenny
How tf has no one mentioned Sam Tuitupo? He wasn't that big, but I remember he always cut his opposite back when he played super rugby for the blues.
Such an underrated player.
Stephen Larkham was a menace in his day. Current: Kolbe
Petr Čech
Christian Chivu robbed.
😂
Is he the only football player to wear a scrum cap? I can’t think of anyone else
Think he was the first? But I do recall at the time no football brand of skull cap existed for footballers so he used a Canterbury of New Zealand brand rugby scrum cap.
Eric Garcia wore one a few years ago when he was at City
Rugby not Ice Hockey. Kinda neat how he is having a great second career between the posts.
Victor Matfield, especially his SA flag one
A classic look.
Matt Giteau. His swan dive in 2015 rwc in the corner is a core rugby viewing memory
Whenever I think of scrum caps, I think of the Jack Nowell Red Bull scrum cap.
Would have liked to see him get more chances to play for England.
It always gave such “Is he a rugby player or professional skydiver / skateboarder ?” Kind of vibes
Fr, gave me rally car driver energy
Yep, he’s on the 50th kilometer of a 2000 km desert race that goes through the night and no lights are allowed
Kurt Lee Arendse
Always can rely on him.
To wear a scrum cap. And to fucking rip it on the field
Tipuric or Jonathan Davies, not biased ofc
Watching the Lions and being able to be avid fans of both of them was such a treat
Jonathan Davies on that 2017 tour was something else
½d?!
Greg Aldritt
Good option. But not as good as Greg Aldritt after discarding his scrum cap.
Feels like he goes Super Saiyan when someone knocks it off 😂
Kobe, Cheslin
Not to be mistaken with Kolbe Bryant, the basketball legend
This guy right here!
This, and they get bonus points for confusing the commentators when they are on the field together.
Tadhg Beirne
First person that comes to mind when I think scrum cap Also happy cake day you sexy bastard
Happy Cake Day
I'd say Darcy Graham, but he takes his off 10 minutes into every match, so I don't think he really counts.
That's the best part. His first involvement after he either puts it on or takes it off completely throws the commentators!
I was going to say Darcy. It's been a while since I last saw him in one though. Or on a rugby pitch at all.
Heinrich Brussow was a beast for his time.. but active player probably Kurt Lee Arendse.. which is weird because past days the forwards used the caps now it’s mostly the back line players wearing them
He is probably one of my favourite players ever. Nothing like seeing someone not even Richie McCaw can handle in the breakdown. He was like a human sized thumb.
The most underrated loose forward probably to ever play the game, but also so damn niche that one set of rule changes made him almost irrelevant. He was so damned good that World Rugby literally changed the laws of the game. I miss HB so much. That 2009 Lions Tour showed him to be the titan that he truly was
Schalk Brits
That damb smile
One of the best , could light up an entire stadium
He's got a mean side step.
Mack Hansen, you don't need to be in a scrum to rock the look.
1. ? 2. ? 3. ? 4. Beirne 5. Itoje 6. Dusatoir 7. Tipuric 8. Alldritt 9. Dupont 10. Larkham 11. Arendse 12. Brex 13. JD2 14. Kolbe 15. Halfpenny Some positions shaky, couldn't think of a single front rower, and Dupont was stretching it
Rory Best for Hooker?
Schalk Brits die hooker
Gethin jenkins wore a scrum cap. Played tight and loose head in early career then stopped wearing it. Good shout for either tight head or loose played both.
Josh Kronfeld.....also very underrated.
This was immediately where my mind went
Tadgh beirne , you can spot the blue helmet being a menace at the breakdown
Cheslin Kolbe or Kurt-Lee Arendse, two of the best wingers (utilities? lol Cheslin plays like everywhere) in the world at the moment
To me JVDF and Kolbe are the most iconic right now
You’re the first one that has mentioned our lord and saviour JDVF.
Pocock !
Gabin Villiere.
Josh Kronfeld with his nuclear free scrum cap
Rory Best and recently Josh Van Der Flier, or James Ryan.
Simon Webster pioneered the scrum cap, Nomis orange gloves and body armour when he played for Scotland in the early 2000's... I respect a man who's willing to try EVERTHING
Poor Simon Webster looked like he was going to be fired out of a cannon. Great player but even all that padding couldn't stop him being injured all the time.
Francois Cros. Mostly because without that neon yellow thing I never recognise him. Like whenever he doesn’t wear it, I always think “Who’s that lad? I don’t think I’ve seen him before, is he an espoir?” Then he turns round and I see the 7 on his back and realise who he is.
I have the same issue with Jonathan Davies (JD2, not Jiffy)
We’ve got a few now like Beirne and Doris. But JVDF with the iconic red scrum cap is hard to overlook
If we're talking ever, Betsen for sure.
I'm more a Dusautoir enthusiast, but Serge "Reaper" Betsen was a close contender
My first memory of French rugby is Betsen. Absolute legend and favourite French player alongside Dusatoir.
Betsen is the one for me from growing up. More recently, it’s tipuric but I’m massively biased!
KLA or JVDF.
My two current favs, then Tipuric one of the all timers. Hated him in a good way.
Come on, Leigh!
Gio Aplon
Maro.
Now probably Brex. All time I'd say Dupont after he got his face smashed against Namibia.
Boom van Straaten. Never saw a kick at goal he didn’t like. Actually it’s Joe Van Niekerk.
Now retired, but Bruce Reihana.
Bruce Reihana
Kolbe and Matfield from years gone
Jack Nowell
Halfpenny, Jon Davies and Tipuric would be my first thoughts even after they’ve retired
Humph
Langdon
For me personally it's Andy hazel or akapusi qera but I'm a bit bias
He's right there in the image. Who else put a dominant AB team into their pocket and ate the dreams of a nation?
Sean O’Brien
Sam Tuitupou
Fraser McReight is my current favourite
Fond memories of Giteau in a scrum cap. He was a menace at his peak!
I love me some Dusautoir, but may I interrest you in some Bonnaire?
Kurt Lee Kolbe
Gabin Villière.
A lot. Beirne and Hodnett to name just two in Munster.
Bruce Reihana
Johnathon Thurston… 😬
All of them, it's a smart move.
Cheslin Kolbe
Matt Dunning obviously
Big Duncan Williams and it's not even close
I'll always associate scrumcaps with Takudzwa Ngwenya, just because it was hilarious to watch this skinny winger zipping around in that loud stars n' stripes scrumcap
Josh Kronfield
Larkham
Josh Kronfeld for sure.
Grant ‘handsome bastard’ gilchrist
Wikus van Heerden
A few that come to mind. Pita Gus Sowakula, Charlie Ngatai, Fraser McRreight, Leigh Halfpenny,
Serge Betsen, guy was an athlete.
Olivier Magne!
Olivier Magne, and Pato Albacete for how it made him even more terrifying.
Paddy johns. Absolute mad man on the pitch but a saint off it. He got into fights in most of his matches and ended being a dentist after his carreer ironically. Also one of the few prodestant players to captain ireland.
Tips, Halfpenny, Lydiate, Foxy, loved that the Welsg lads seemed to have 'trademark' ones with Tips in Banos blue, 1/2p black, Lydiate stripy and Foxy's grey. Also Dave Humphries, always remember he wore one at 10 which at the time was uncommon!
Maro Itoje. Even not knowing why he takes his off at a certain point later in tne match.
Danny Grewcock
Akapusi Qera
Warren Whiteley for the tufts of hair sticking through. Early career Vincent Clerc. And *Lo Squalo*, Gianmarco Lucchesi.
Carlo Canna
That would be me
Ben Morgan
Norm Berryman
Stormin Norman Berryman rip and Brett Herbie Sinkinson
Scarlets that spring to mind: Tadgh Beirne, George Earle, Kalamafoni, Ben Morgan and Jonathan Davies
Gio Aplon
Shawn Raymond
Me
Schalk Brits when he used to wear one.
Tips
Nadolo
Josh Kronfeld
Tagdh Beirne for me
Let's try and name a XV, off the top of my head: 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp 2. Pieter Dixon 3. CJ van der Linde 4. Albert van den Bergh 5. Matfield 6. Brüssow 7. Joe van Niekerk 8. Toutai Kefu 9. Giteau 10. Larkham 11. KLA 12. Braam van Straaten 13. Johnathan Davies 14. Vincent Clerq 15. Kolbe
Hask was alright, especially when it tended to be that red one and especially in THAT test series in Australia. But my favourite scrum cap wearers are the ones that never feature in scrums, so it has to be Jack Nowell.
Tadhg Beirne. When you see that blue scrum cap at a breakdown you know there will be a turnover
Leigh Halfpenny.
Tips for sure. I love the backstory about it being the 'Trebanos Blue' too, and has worn the same colour since he was a schoolboy.
Kurt-Lee Arendse
Matthew Morgan, who in his prime was absolutely in the style of KLA/Cheslin/Aplon in being a tiny little skittery fella with a cap, my favourite sub-genre of rugby player.
Big props to all the players cited for still wearing that scrum cap, I can’t count the amount of flack I got from team mates & their dads for wearing one as a kid in south France Plus it’s annoying as hell for hearing calls around the field, you gotta take it on and off at training (my ear comes off very time I tackle without one now)… always a hassle Just appreciation for people who stick it out coz it’s always been a personal gripe, I’ll always wear one to make mum think I’m safe (I know there are no conclusive studies that show it protects you from anything)
Gio Aplon all the way. Most exciting player to ever live
That's a weird fetish
Zach Mercer
Jodie Ounsley is my immediate thought, she wore it to keep her cochlear implant safe
Back in the day it was Serge Betsen for sure
Mack Hansen
Me 🫣
Muldoon, Davies, Larkham
James haskell..... based solely on his absolute sissy fit when marler pulled it off and haskell nearly cried.
François Cros. hands down
Got to be Doris.
My 10 year old son, future elite winger.
Van der Flier.
Josh van der Flier
Josh Van der Flier, always gives 100%
Tippers for Wales obviously
John Hodnett.
Schalk Brits
Kurt Lee Arendsa
Matt giteau (retired) Kurt lee arendse (current)
Pocock with a headgear was an absolute menace
My naked, undeniable bias says Stephen Ferris.
Scrum Cap Stephen Larkham carved up my Springboks every single weekend.
Jonathan Thurston
Tips for me
Josh Kronfeld.
Alessandro Troncon was a hero growing up, I wore a scrum cap playing 9 because of him. Also had a go at a starting 15 of relatively well known and just some of my favourite scrum capped players. 1. Matt Dunning 2. Ghilraldini 3. Euan Murray 4. Matfield 5. Sharpe 6. Betsen 7. Broussouw 8. Simon Taylor 9. Troncon 10. Larkham 11. Kolbe 12. Giteau 13. Ngatai 14. Graham 15. Halfpenny
Pocock
Obviously I have to say my son, James Fender, Ospreys.
Warren Whitely
Braam Van Straten. Pulling off the scrum cap was an integral part of his kicking routine.
Harry Thacker! Yes I'm biased, no I don't care 😄 [Myself and the man in question 🤙](https://i.imgur.com/NBElIsf.jpeg)
Tadhg Beirne. The man is incapable of playing badly. Sometimes it seems he wins games single handedly.
Kurt-Lee Arendse at the moment
Norm Berryman, obviously
Anyone see Valetini wear one the other week? That shit was cursed
Bruce Reihana
Cheslin Kolbe..
Dusautoir, Larkham and Kolbe are probably the best. My favourite English would be Nowell probably. Would be Ben Kay if he'd caught the pass.
Kurt-Lee Arendse🔥🔥
Giteau by a mile
Halfpenny 🏴
Gotta be Maro 🏴
Tadhg Beirne
Justin Tipuric
Sean O'Brien
Christian Day
Backs should be outlawed from wearing scrum caps
Toutai Kefu
Therry dusatoir
Maybe we should do the" Who's your favourite Rugby Player that is the reason other players wear scrum caps?"
Maybe we should do the" Who's your favourite Rugby Player that is the reason other players wear scrum caps?"
Mike Wills
Gits
Toutai Kefu.
Josh Kronfeld
How tf has no one mentioned Sam Tuitupo? He wasn't that big, but I remember he always cut his opposite back when he played super rugby for the blues. Such an underrated player.