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Rugby fans are only just realising why scoring two tries in a rugby match is called a ‘brace’
HARLEQUINS winger Cadan Murley is no stranger to netting a brace – he has done it numerous times this season.
The term is used when one player scores two tries in a match.
It may have been used by commentators, pundits and writers for years, but fans are only just realising why it’s called a brace.
It’s not quite a hat-trick, but its history is just as fascinating.
Picking up our rugby dictionary, the word is thought to date back to the Anglo-French language.
Back then, it meant a “pair of arms”.
And in the Old English language, a “brace” was used in hunting terminology to mean a duo of something had been killed or shot.
To the modern day, rugby has taken this term to essentially mean a pair of goals.
Antoine Dupont has been voted the best rugby union player in the world
20. Marcus Smith (England)
Alongside Steward, who features later in the list, mercurial playmaker Marcus Smith looms as one of England’s brightest young talents.
19. Romain Ntamack (France)
Ntamack, half of the highly regarded French halves pairing, is quickly establishing himself as one of rugby’s most talented young players.
At just 22 years of age, Ntamack has become a crucial figure in France’s resurgence on the international stage, impressing in a number of matches as the team’s starting fly-half.
18. Maro Itoje (England)
17. Charles Ollivon (France)
16. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Widely regarded as one of the world’s top front row forwards, the highly respected Irish and Leinster prop exemplifies the modern-day tighthead prop with his versatile skill set.
In addition to his outstanding scrummaging abilities and explosive ball-carrying power, often bulldozing through multiple opposition players, he also possesses an impressive range of complementary skills that go beyond the norm for a typical prop.
15. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
14. Ange Capuozzo (Italy)
Although he only made his international debut for Italy last year, the 23-year-old Italian speedster is quickly becoming one of the most thrilling fullbacks on the world stage.
He announced his arrival with two sensational tries in his first outing for the Azzurri against Scotland and has since established himself as a vital player in Italy’s exciting attacking lineup, hinting at the start of a promising Italian renaissance.
13. Damien Penaud (France)
12. Finn Russell (Scotland)
Russell’s performance seems to improve as he ages.
He has always been a great player for Scotland, but his outstanding performance in the third test of the Lions series was one of the most impressive displays of his career, given the match’s significance.
Russell possesses as much X-factor as any other flyhalf worldwide, but more importantly, he has refined his skills to the point where he isn’t attempting a miraculous play at every opportunity, although he still knows when to go all out to snatch a game away from the opposition.
