Being branded a 'rugger bugger'

[SurreyRuggerBugger]

Hmmm, maybe, as someone said, it's a private school thing? I was privately educated and heard it almost constantly in those days. As I say though, it's been a pretty common term throughout university and into working life too. Also, I must admit I do tend to refer to Twickenham and Twickers too!

 

[McTallshort]

Hmmm, maybe, as someone said, it's a private school thing? I was privately educated and heard it almost constantly in those days. As I say though, it's been a pretty common term throughout university and into working life too. Also, I must admit I do tend to refer to Twickenham and Twickers too!

My instincts are telling me this is a wum, "Surryruggerbugger" kind of stereo typical name used by the anti Rugby Union brigade, you know the type: middle class Guardian reader with a Chelsea season ticket who hates rugby because he was forced to play it at public school but loves wendyball because he thinks it gives him "street kred".

The fact he claims to refer to Twickenham as Twickers is a dead give away. Get a life mate, go back to watching John Terry abusing black players at Stamford bridge and leave rugby to us real men.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Could be a regional thing - I know a few private school educated people from the Midlands-ish area (Bromsgrove School, Denstone College and Warwick School) and have never heard it used

 

[Teh Mite]

Doesn't the term "Rugger" more refer to the game, and isn't it more associated with Public Schools and "Old School Tie" upper class types, as in

"I say Sir Hugh, Old Chap, shall we go down to Twickers next Saturday to watch the Rugger?"

White Anglo Saxon Protistants.
otherwise known as American university tossers.

 

[Murph316]

Was never annoyed at being called a rugger bugger, to me its just someone recognising I play rugby and putting a nickname on that. Nothing bad is ever meant (that I've heard of) when someone says it.

 

[SurreyRuggerBugger]

Yes perhaps it is a regional thing. I'm actually a little surprised by how few people have heard the term though, I assumed it was more common.

Murph - I agree, it doesn't bother me at all. I've found that other players tend to use it as a term of endearment, but non fans have used it thinking it'll wind me up.

 

[Ticklishchap]

I remember being called that sometimes at school: it was a traditional boys’ boarding school and Rugby was always referred to as Rugger. The ‘Rugger Bugger’ epithet arose because Rugby (Rugger) wasn’t my only interest; I was in the academic stream and was an editor of the school magazine, took part in plays, debating society, etc., etc., but also played ‘Rugger’ regularly for the House and sometimes a School team. There was quite a strong division between the ‘athletes’ and the ‘aesthetes’ and I sort of had a boot in both camps. I recall my English master (very much an aesthete) calling me a ‘Rugger Bugger’ and thinking he’d embarrassed me in some way, but I found it quite amusing if unoriginal at the time.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Could be a regional thing - I know a few private school educated people from the Midlands-ish area (Bromsgrove School, Denstone College and Warwick School) and have never heard it used

I’m midlands based (grew up in rugby) and have heard both terms used quite a lot.

 

[Ticklishchap]

I’m midlands based (grew up in rugby) and have heard both terms used quite a lot.

I have also been told that the term ‘Rugger’ should only be applied to Rugby Union rather than Rugby League - which implies a ‘class’ or ‘North-South’ divide.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

This is one hell of a necro...

I was but a wee double digit poster when the last comment was made.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I remember being called that sometimes at school: it was a traditional boys’ boarding school and Rugby was always referred to as Rugger. The ‘Rugger Bugger’ epithet arose because Rugby (Rugger) wasn’t my only interest; I was in the academic stream and was an editor of the school magazine, took part in plays, debating society, etc., etc., but also played ‘Rugger’ regularly for the House and sometimes a School team. There was quite a strong division between the ‘athletes’ and the ‘aesthetes’ and I sort of had a boot in both camps. I recall my English master (very much an aesthete) calling me a ‘Rugger Bugger’ and thinking he’d embarrassed me in some way, but I found it quite amusing if unoriginal at the time.

can I ask how you managed to find a decade old thread with such an unusual title?

 

[Ticklishchap]

can I ask how you managed to find a decade old thread with such an unusual title?

I was looking for ‘Rugby versus Rugger’ references as this came up recently in a conversation with a friend from Wales; he thinks the term Rugger is an ‘abomination’! The title amused me and I hadn’t realised quite how old it was. Sorry if I ruffled a few feathers by redirecting it; I’m happy to let the thread rest in peace!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I was looking for ‘Rugby versus Rugger’ references as this came up recently in a conversation with a friend from Wales; he thinks the term Rugger is an ‘abomination’! The title amused me and I hadn’t realised quite how old it was. Sorry if I ruffled a few feathers by redirecting it; I’m happy to let the thread rest in peace!

no feathers ruffled, im always just amazed when people find these old thread and we get to "see" poster who are no longer around

 

[Ticklishchap]

no feathers ruffled, im always just amazed when people find these old thread and we get to "see" poster who are no longer around

Thanks for that - I’m relieved!!!
One thing occurred to me about the RB label: it’s not unlike ‘Army Barmy’, which used to be said of young men who showed a strong interest in all things military! That term had almost gone out of use when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s.

 

[BrokenWing]

Rugger always strikes me as the sort of thing Boris Johnson types say.

 

[Ticklishchap]

Rugger always strikes me as the sort of thing Boris Johnson types say.

I went to a similar type of school I suppose but that’s the only thing I have in common with Bozo the Clown . Don’t even get me started on that one! ...

 

[dullonien]

Still not a term I've come across in Wales. Rugby is reffered to as rugby and banter is had without having to state that it's just bantz (well maybe BigArena is an exception to that last one).

 

[Ticklishchap]

Still not a term I've come across in Wales. Rugby is reffered to as rugby and banter is had without having to state that it's just bantz (well maybe BigArena is an exception to that last one).

I like banter but would never use the word bantz. It’s the sort of word used by people who ‘pop’ things in the post instead of posting a letter.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I like banter but would never use the word bantz. It’s the sort of word used by people who ‘pop’ things in the post instead of posting a letter.

....and thats a bad thing?

 

[Ticklishchap]

....and thats a bad thing?

I’m sorry - it probably has a different connotation in NZ and also anywhere outside London/SE England. It’s just that at work I deal with a lot of contractors and tradesmen and whenever one of them mentioning ‘popping it in the post’ or ‘popping it in an email’ I just know they’re going to have to be chased up later! It denotes a careless attitude and the types who the phrase (in my part of the world) tend to be the same types who say ‘bantz’ for banter. ...