<--Back Dear Rugby Buddha, As a fourth year collegiate player, one of the most lasting and ubiquitous traditions I have found as a rugger is the pilfering of equipment from other teams at any opportune moment. From jerseys, to practice balls, to the ultra-forbidden goalpost pad theft, every rugby team seems to know and love the sacred practice of relieving another team of their possesions. However, in recent months I have noticed an unsettling trend of teams whining to coaches, demanding back stolen property, and even resorting to cancelling upcoming matches due to theft. None of our 'snags' have been too outlandish, so I can't help but believe that these teams are upset for the simple fact that we're better burglars than they. I know, I know, stealing is wrong and the preceding practices were never intended to be part of the sport, etc., etc. But c'mon, what do we have to tell these teams to get them to hike up their panties and keep playing?? Sincerely, A Light-Fingered Fullback P.S. Go SHARKS!!! Dear LFF, I'm not sure I would call stealing a "lasting and ubiquitous tradition" in rugby. It has been my experience that balls are the most common thing to go missing, simply because one ball looks like another and few people ever take the time to mark them property of. Incidental gear left at the field after everyone is gone is fair game, though we do try to find the owners of things like boots, wallets, watches jewelry etc. As far as jerseys go, I have never and would never lift one from another team. They are expensive and a pain in the ass to replace except in team sets. All the jerseys in my collection were traded for. I find that to be a much more satisfying way of obtaining rugby memorabilia and meeting new friends. We toured the northeast one year and on that trip, one of our younger players took a fancy to an opposing team's kit bags and took one, along with its contents. When we found out, he was promptly punished and the kit bag returned. His unique patchwork haircut made him look like a cross between a lice ridden junkie and a chemo patient. It also required the complete shaving of his head upon his return home, which made an interesting impression at the job interview he had scheduled the next day. As a rule I don't tolerate pilfering by my players. I would encourage you to try and eliminate it with your team. It will only cause you trouble in the long run. That having been said, I don't see it as a reason not to play a team. If we go play a team that enjoys stealing, we go prepared and alert. If we catch anyone stealing from us, he gets pounded into a grease spot and turned over to his coach, school admin or the cops. That's the easiest way to deal with it. For some reason we've never really had a problem with people stealing from us. Cheers! Rugby Buddha PS- Stay away from my kit bag!