Sunday Social: Christmas messages, songs and bloopers
It is time for Planet Rugby’s Sunday Social, your quirky recap of the serious and not so serious talking points from the past week’s action.
We begin in New Zealand where there was plenty of Christmas spirit amongst the Moana Pasifika players, who sent out messages to their fans for the festive period.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! 🎅🏽 KILISIMASI FIEFIA! 🇹🇴 MANUIA LE KIRISIMASI 🇼🇸 MERI KIRIHIMETE 🇳🇿
On behalf of the Moana Pasifika family we would like to wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas, wherever you are in the world 🌎🧡💙
God bless! pic.twitter.com/pn11VOt2GM
— Moana Pasifika Rugby (@MoanaPasifika_) December 24, 2021
With it being Christmas yesterday, the BT Sport team just had to remind us of this classic retort from Ben Kay to Austin Healey.
It's about that time! Enjoy your Christmas dinner! 🦃😂pic.twitter.com/449JwJObjc
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 25, 2021
While the BallCarrier guys came up with this innovative Christmas XV.
Merry Christmas folks!
To celebrate we got our Santa hats on & selected a festive fifteen.
Got any more names for our Xmas XV? pic.twitter.com/4MteRmE6Ul
— BallCarrier (@BallCarrier_) December 25, 2021
They also used this Bakkies Botha comparison to illustrate the pre and after effects of a Christmas meal.
Before Christmas Dinner
After Christmas Dinner pic.twitter.com/usOr3V694h
— BallCarrier (@BallCarrier_) December 25, 2021
Like the former Bok enforcer, it looks like England hooker Jamie Blamire also loves a big meal.
Mum: How many pigs in blankets do you want?
Me: pic.twitter.com/Sb0XdUJz92— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) December 25, 2021
With Newcastle Falcons’ Boxing Day match against Sale Sharks being cancelled, Falcons’ press officer’s Christmas plans were disrupted when news broke of the Covid positives in the Sale camp.
Well, that was an eventful last few hours over the Christmas turkey. No quiet days in THIS job!
Gutted for the club and everyone who was coming, but first and foremost, hope everyone at Sale Sharks is OK 🙏🏽. https://t.co/VLOieIYrmF
— mark smith (@markismith50) December 25, 2021
Elsewhere, England and Harlequins front-row Joe Marler sent a special Christmas message to his club’s fans ahead of their Big Game against Northampton Saints.
🎅 @JoeMarler with a Christmas message for you all.
🛒 https://t.co/TL27Yq5A8c#COYQ #BigGame13 pic.twitter.com/r4dQ3QjMrz
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) December 25, 2021
Another former England and Quins great, Will Carling, had his ego dented when he went down to the supermarket, judging from this story.
Headed into Aldi this am for some wine. Man in front of me paid with vouchers – once he had gone, gentleman at the checkout explained he was a GB athlete – part of their Sponsorship. He looked at me ‘ were you an athlete?’ – then burst out laughing!! Devastated !! 🤣🤣
— Will Carling (@willcarling) December 23, 2021
Earlier in the week, Bangor Rugby Club’s players hit the headlines when they braved the winter chill to go topless while raising money for charity by singing Christmas carols. Well done, guys!
👏 Tremendous effort from Bangor Rugby Club, who raised money for charity by singing Christmas carols in, well, not very much attire prior to Ulster's game with Northampton.
Outstanding work lads as it must have been freezing! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/13KM6bQLSW
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) December 20, 2021
Meanwhile, there was plenty to laugh about with these Rugby World Cup bloopers. There are some famous names in this video.
Sometimes, it's good to have a laugh! 😆 pic.twitter.com/r6Vb6Fxijn
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) December 26, 2021
We end in Uganda where Stanbic Pirates’ players also broke into song to celebrate Christmas.
Did your fav get the #Christmas songs right? 😅😅#PiratesStrong pic.twitter.com/0EGJmDdKVS
— PIRATES RUGBY (@piratesrugbyUG) December 23, 2021