The Honest Ones.

"There are two kinds of Rugby players boys …"

The Honest Ones

Every rugby player knows that speech. Jim Telfer in 1997, in the Lions doc. Gravel in his voice, steel in his eyes. He talked about the difference between the show ponies and the workhorses. About the ones who graft when no one’s watching.

He called them “the honest ones.”

That phrase has stuck with me for decades. Because every team I ever played in had those lads. The ones who’d never make the headlines, but without them you had nothing. The prop who did the unseen shift at every scrum. The lads who never missed training, never complained, just turned up and put the work in.

Honesty, in rugby terms, isn’t just about telling the truth to others. It’s about effort. It’s about the courage to do your job, again and again, even when you’re exhausted. It’s about not cutting corners.

In life, just like in rugby, it’s tempting to look for shortcuts. To chase the highlight reel. But the older I get, the more I realise Telfer was right: the honest ones are the foundation. Whether that’s showing up to the gym when you don’t feel like it, polishing your boots the night before, or just being there for your mates...it’s the same principle.

At OldNovo, we want to celebrate that honesty. The graft. The respect. The small, unseen details that make the difference. Because rugby and life are built on the backs of the honest ones.

I still remember watching Jim Telfer’s speech in Living with the Lions. Gave me goosebumps then, still does now. He talked about “the honest ones” .... the players who did the graft, the work nobody else wanted to do, the foundation of every good team.

But here’s the thing I’ve come to realise, now that I’m not pulling on the boots every Saturday: honesty isn’t just about the quiet grafters. It’s about how you show up.

I’ve played with lads who were match-winners, big personalities, the ones who’d light up the pitch with something outrageous. And you know what? The best of them were honest too. They showed up as themselves, consistently, confidently, and with a respect for the team that kept them grounded.

That’s what honesty really means in rugby. If you’re the captain, you show up like a leader. If you’re the flashy winger, you show up like one. 

I miss that part of the game; the turning up. The boots polished the night before, the shirt folded in your kitbag, that quiet buzz on a Saturday morning knowing you’ve done the little things right.

Nowadays, it’s the gym, or family, or building OldNovo, but the principle’s the same. honesty is showing up. Being who you say you are, backing it up with actions.

That’s what Telfer meant. And that’s what sticks with me. Rugby or not, the question’s still the same: are you showing up like you say you want to?
Matt