The Rugby World Cup recently took place in France and increased publicity surrounding the event meant that many people learned about rugby for the first time. More specifically, that it appears to be a sport about “sexy men giving each other wedgies,” thanks to one video in particular.



The video, which went viral on Twitter, shows Springbok Siya Kolisi lifting teammate Jesse Kriel by his shorts as he does rugby moves on the field, showing off Kriel’s incredibly impressive thighs and baffling onlookers who then sought to understand how this helped them play rugby. Not that anybody was really complaining.



A viral tweet about the video reads, “i thought rugby was the sport them rich kids play with the mallet and the balls or whatever i didn’t know they were eating BUTT on the field,” with OP following up with the realization that they were confusing rugby with croquet, an impressive feat in itself considering the complete lack of similarities.



Others similarly unfamiliar with rugby also had questions. “Is this a scrum?” read one tweet (no, this is), while several people said they finally understood why people enjoyed watching sport so much, and maybe they should get in on the action too.


@rugbyworldcup Bro sculpted like a Greek god #jessekriel #RWC2023 #rugbyboys ♬ оригінальний звук - ᶫᵒᵛᵉˢᵉᶰˢˢˢ


Appreciating rugby players’ thighs is such an accepted pastime that the official TikTok account of the Rugby World Cup got in on the action, sharing a video celebrating Kriel’s thighs that garnered over four million views in two days. In their words, and in the words of many fans around the world, “Bro sculpted like a Greek god .”


Obviously the Springboks’ wedgie strategy works, because South Africa beat New Zealand in the World Cup Grand Final in Paris 12 to 11. Hopefully the players, and their thighs, had a fantastic time celebrating their win. Condolences to the losing thighs, though. I’m sure they’re in the thicc of their pain sorrow as we speak.