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Keep in mind when All Blacks midfielder Ma’a Nonu admitted to sporting eyeliner in massive rugby video games again in 2004?
Then Nonu’s nice silver booted Welsh rival Gavin Henson revealed in 2005 that he used to shave his legs and slap on hair gel earlier than kickoff.
New England wing Ollie Hassell-Collins is the newest rugby participant unafraid to face out within the crowd by a spot of self-expression.
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The 1.92m 104kg exterior again has begun portray his fingernails pink and white in conventional St George flag colors for Six Nations checks.’
The 24-year-old – London Irish’s first England check starter for 9 years – informed The Guardian he did not count on to set a brand new rugby development, however he’d been emboldened to brighten his nails by his companion Eloise.
“My girlfriend gave me quite a lot of confidence to strive it. She’d say: ‘Simply do it.’ And I form of appreciated it. It simply grew from there,” he mentioned.
“Beforehand I might thought of it however by no means truly did it. I do not count on each rugby participant will likely be portray their nails any time quickly nevertheless it’s simply me. It is the way in which I’m. I do not see any level in altering that.”
Hassell-Collins, who made his England debut in opposition to Scotland at Twickenham every week in the past, often sports activities inexperienced and white nails – London Irish’s colors – for membership video games.
A prolific scorer for London Irish (39 tries in 90 video games), he informed England Rugby’s Instagram web page his nails have been “clearly pink and white for England” at Take a look at degree.
Hassell-Collins, a Harry Potter fan, has a Golden Snitch tattoo on his arm and is understood for taking his three cats, Betsy, Albus and Marmalade, for walks.
He mentioned on the Instagram web page that the nails fad was “form of this season”.
“I put on various jewelry, and clearly I am unable to put on jewelry in video games so I suppose it is like my everlasting jewelry,” he mentioned.
Hassell-Collins mentioned he “used to chunk my nails so I used to be portray them clear”, however “determined to jazz them up just a little bit”.
And do the nifty nails give Hassell-Collins an edge?
“Completely,” he informed The Guardian earlier than enjoying in England’s 31-14 win over Italy on Monday. “Look good, really feel good, play good. I am a powerful believer in it.”
And what do rugby traditionalists assume?
Former Taranaki dairy farmer Kieran Crowley – an All Black fullback from 1985 to 1991 – now coaches Italy.
‘Colt’ Crowley was requested by the Agence France-Presse information company after the England Take a look at, how he’d react if considered one of his gamers daubed his fingernails in Italian colors.
“They’re grown males, they’ll do what they need,” Crowley mentioned.
“So long as it would not have an effect on their efficiency, when it begins to have an effect on their efficiency, I’d say one thing.”
England rating first Six Nations win below Borthwick
After Scotland beat them 29-23 of their first spherical encounter, England bounced again for victory within the second spherical of the Six Nations with a 31-14 victory over Italy.
It marked the primary win for England below its new coach Steve Borthwick, who changed Eddie Jones on the helm.
Scotland continued their momentum within the second spherical, downing Wales 35-7 in a demolition derby at Murrayfield.
It is the primary time since 1996 that Scotland has taken back-to-back wins within the event.
Essentially the most extremely anticipated match all weekend was that of Eire in opposition to France in Dublin.
The guests, who conceded their hopes have been slim days out from the competition, suffered a 12-point defeat – France taking place 32-19 to Eire.
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