Wrist action grips rugby

14 May 2015 - 02:06 By Sbu Mjikeliso

It used to be that footballers were notorious for hand-scribbled messages on their under T-shirts which they'd display in jubilation after scoring a goal. "Why Always Me?" Mario Balotelli once asked after scoring for Manchester City against hot rivals Manchester United. It made the already controversial Italian striker infamous.Now rugby players have joined the act by putting messages on their wristbands and displaying them to the cameras after crossing the try line.You might have seen Stormers fullback Cheslin Kolbe displaying both his wrist-bands to the camera after scoring a wondrous try against the Waratahs last month. The 21-year-old put both his wrists together to the viewers with the words "Mom" and "Dad" coming together in handcuff motion.Messages like these mean a lot to sportsmen and women. They use them to psyche themselves up - to fight their inner mental battles before they go into the line of fire.Sharks winger Odwa Ndungane goes onto the field with a wrist strap with the initials of his wife Kgomotso and daughter Amahle written on it.New Zealanders, who aren't shy to get inked, have also warmed up to the trend. For All Blacks and the Chiefs flyhalf Aaron Cruden it's "GEJ0342" - his hospital ID from the time he had chemotherapy for testicular cancer. It is a reminder of what odds he's had to overcome to become the heir to Dan Carter's throne.Blues captain Jerome Kaino has "Phil 4:13", which stands for the Philippians verse that says: "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."Mat Roger, the old Wallaby utility back, was probably responsible for the craze, albeit unwittingly, back in the mid-2000s. Rogers used to write the team calls on his wrist strapping so that he could remember them.At the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, the International Rugby Board was called into action when the trend grew more popular. Although they didn't impose bans, their fear was that political and religious messages would overtake the tributes to mom and dad.Although it hasn't reached the radical proportions of footballers' under T-shirts, rugby players are certainly making their mark...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.