Top 5 Alcoholic Drinks For Rugby Players

“Beer and rugby are more or less synonymous.” - Chris Laidlaw This quote from Rhodes Scholar and former halfback for the New Zealand All Blacks resonates with most people familiar or not with the drinking habits of rugby athletes.

The prevalence of alcohol among players of the brutal sport has been an internationally accepted practice since the game's conception in the mid 1800's. Financiers of professional level rugby have engaged this fact and capitalized the sport's advertising market by featuring a large amount of alcohol company sponsorships for a reason. Rugby players and fans alike love to get drunk.

The infiltration of alcoholic beverage companies into virtually every rugby league's marketing campaign has caught considerable heat in recent years, as more and more rugby players world-wide receive suspensions for alcohol citations acquired off the field. Activists use the next generation of rugby players as their reason for requesting a ban on alcohol sponsors in rugby, and all other sports for that matter. Some of these naysayers have gone so far as to request a ban of alcohol consumption by players in order to set a more positive example for the youth. This backlash is not uncommon in sports and resembles the anti-tobacco advertising campaign that successfully swept through the sports world over a decade ago. Just like baseball can never take the Copenhagen out of Pablo Sandoval's mouth, rugby cannot take away Richie McCaw's taste for Steinlager.

Why does alcohol go so well with rugby? To rugby aficionados that is like asking about the connection between supermodels and lingerie, they just make so much sense together. Rugby is masculine, violent, and loud. That is also how one might describe the alcoholic beverages these boys tend to side with. Here's a look at five positions in the sport, and the drinks you are most likely to see in a rugby player's hand after an intense match, whether it be victory or defeat.

1. Guinness

With an advertisement billboard or commercial associated with virtually every rugby event, it is no surprise that Guinness is one of the most popular drinks among rugby players and fans. Perhaps Guinness itself is not the reason for its vast popularity among rugby fans, but it certainly doesn't hurt that Guinness Draught is one of the few craft beers available at rugby events, in contrast with the over-priced and watered down banquet beers pouring from the other available taps. Rugby is not a watered down sport, so it makes sense that this dark and hearty gem would become so popular among international rugby participants. Aside from the large-scale ad campaign associated with rugby, Guiness' tremendous ability to combine with whiskey brings it a shot above the rest.

2. Magners Original Vintage Cider

Over seventeen varieties of apples are fermented and matured for up to two years, making Magners Cider a unique favorite among the barbaric he-men of rugby. Hard cider takes it back to the days in which the only pads at sporting events were suits of armor and the object of every game was to kill your opponent, literally. Apple juice may not seem like a top choice for such elite warriors, but this crispy refreshment has just the right amount of bite to tickle the fancy while allowing the drinker to remain coherent through 80 minutes of awesomeness. If coherency isn't the objective, combining 1, 2, and 3 makes what is known as a Hairball, the key ingredient in any successful rugger's diet.

3. Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey

Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey ranks on the list not only for its smooth Irish flavor, but also because every player that cracks open a Guinness has teammates ready to drop in the Tullamore Dew and Irish cream, making the perfect Car Bomb that rugby players know and cherish so frequently. Essentially the combination of rugby's two favorite drinks deserves its own spot on the list. (See number 5).

4. Hooker Cabernet Sauvignon

For the sophisticated rugby enthusiast, Hooker RFC Old Boys Cabernet Sauvignon provides the prestige and class that accompanies off-the-field ruggers. These guys are more than beasts of party and sport, more often they are well-educated society types. Choosing a fine Napa Valley Cab over a pint of ale proves the elite taste of a bonafide warrior, the taste of a man without fear of crossing boundaries and bridging gaps. There is nothing more impressive than a big jock talking about "the deep purple color, the aromas of mocha mousse, chocolate cherries, and delicate baking spices with a supple, fruity-yet-dry medium body and a tangy, cassia and mineral finish with big, powdery tannins."

5. Boilermaker

The Boilermaker. The cheater on the list. The easy way to encompass everything great about rugby other than rugby. Pour your beer: Heineken, Steinlager, Fosters, whatever really, just leave a little room in the mug. Pour a shot of whiskey: preferably Bushmills or Jameson if you aren't broke. Drop the full shot-glass in the beer mug and chug-a-lug. The most popular cocktail in the rugby world because it combines beer and whiskey into one drink. Boilermakers are rugged and delicious, like Richie McCaw's jawline in a glass.