Exceptional Systems
Traditionally, some clubs (notably Leicester Tigers and Bristol) have used alternative schemes consisting of letters, Bath and Richmond have used a scheme without a number 13 and West Hartlepool RFC hung up their No. 5 jersey in memory of their lock John How who died of a heart condition in a 1994 league match. These unusual systems are shown in the table below. Other common variations in the numbering are the interchange of 6 and 7 (particularly in South Africa and Argentina) or of 11 and 14. A peculiar tradition existed with the rugby team of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London which used to use a system of ancient Thai numbers, making identification by opposing teams virtually impossible.
Will Greenwood, who normally plays at inside centre, prefers to wear the number 13 shirt rather than the usual number 12 assigned to this position for superstitious reasons. During the Rugby World Cup Final of 2003 he played inside centre wearing number 13 and Mike Tindall played outside him in the number 12 shirt.
Read more about this topic: Rugby Union Numbering Schemes
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