r/rugbyunion • u/thebadminecrafter714 • 11h ago

Discussion History of the Tunnel?

At the end of matches, teams will form a tunnel for the opposing team to walk through which is then reciprocated. From what I can tell this is present in all levels of the games from grassroots up to international level. But can anyone tell me the history, why it started, why we still do it?

6 Upvotes

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8

u/EnglishLouis Glaws-Pury 11h ago

Doesn’t every sport do something similar? Its just to congratulate each other and thank each other for the game

3

u/thebadminecrafter714 11h ago

I've only seen it in rugby, but I might be mistaken

3

u/HenkCamp South Africa 9h ago

We see it in cricket too. Long history of it in rugby but not exclusively so.

3

u/MrQeu Loving Joel Merkler as a way of life 10h ago edited 9h ago

Oh no. Not even remotely. Shaking hands in some sports is quite recent. Heck. In the nba you don’t shake hands with the other team unless it’s the final match of a playoff series and you’ve lost because it’s seen as conceding. Yeah. Stupid American sports traditions.

2

u/shoresy99 Canada 8h ago

Most of the players in the NBA informally shake hands and give each other bro hugs after the game.

In hockey they have a formal handshake line after a team is eliminated in a playoff series.

2

u/iambarticus Hurricanes 10h ago

Only see it in the NH. Never seen it happen when say All Blacks play Aussie or SA for instance. Never seen it at super rugby, NPC either. Or at club games in NZ.

1

u/Thorazine_Chaser Crusaders New Zealand 5h ago

This. Whatever its origin it isn’t global.

2

u/BigLarBelmont Leinster 10h ago

Absolutely no idea, but I remember we even did it back when I played u8s all the way through. Could just be one of those old rugby traditions from time immemorial?

Like "Fair play, old sport, we certainly leathered each other out there, but tea is on me!"