The most-watched rugby videos of 2022

From brutal brawls to hilarious drinking games, these are the top five most-viewed rugby videos of the past year.

All videos have been ranked from WalesOnline's rugby Facebook page in 2022, and went viral to varying degrees, picking up 5.5 million views collectively.

The selection of clips are testament to some of rugby's core themes: humour, camaraderie and at times, confrontation.

Here is what entertained you most in the last 365 days:

5. Stuart Hogg scares Duhan Van der Merwe - 382,000 views

While in Scotland camp for 2022 autumn series, Stuart Hogg made Duhan van der Merwe his victim, sneaking up on the 6ft 4in winger and scaring the living daylights out of him. There is something rather amusing about watching a towering 16 stone unit let out high-pitched scream not once, but four times! It's no surprise this makes the top five.

4. Welsh rugby drinking game gone wrong - 418,000 views

Blaina RFC's hilarious pre-season drinking game captured the internet's attention back in July. The viral trend, which was started by Llanelli Wanderers, sees players compete in a relay-style race. A player runs up to a marked spot, turns around and sprints back before slip and sliding to the finish line.

At this point, there is a "boat race" where whoever finishes their pint first allows the next competitor to complete the course. Easier said than done.

When you've got 18-stone men covered in soap and water flying towards a table full of pints, there's always going to be room for error.

3. Moment of madness sees full-back 'taken care of' - 665,000 views

This is one of the more bizarre occurrences on the rugby field, where Old Elizabethans sailed in for an easy try while the opposing full-back was embroiled in off-the-ball fisticuffs.

Old Es' Matty Carr made the break, but there was no covering full-back in sight. Carr's teammate Barry Wilson had Bredon Star's Stefan Lasota by the scruff of the neck, holding a clenched fist. It was later confirmed that no punches were thrown. A gentleman on the recording can be heard shouting "Barry! Barry!" and cackling as Carr peels away for a very unusual try to say the least.

2. 'Best rugby teammate ever' leaves people in tears - 1.8 million views

There is no surprise that this young man's pep talk to his struggling teammate went viral. In the footage taken from a rugby camp during the Easter holidays, one boy was focused on how the other players were far bigger and older than he was. Then, a boy who he had been friends with for just two days gave one of the most rousing speeches you are likely to hear from a child.

"Look at me," he said. "I'm the shortest kid here. It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter if you're short, you're young, it doesn't matter if you're taller here. Bro, you are a brilliant rugby player. You understand that? You are insane. You are actually insane for your age. Come here and give me a hug."

1. Brutal Welsh rugby brawl - 2.3 million views

The most-viewed rugby video of 2022 is this chaotic game between Bargoed and Pontypool. After an incident at the scrum, Pontypool's Scott Evans and Bargoed's Louie Blacker were each shown a yellow card. As the pair walked from the field, things got heated.

The pair landed a good few haymakers on each other before every Tom, Dick and Harry (the 28 other players) flooded to the scene in what can only be described as pushing and shoving pandemonium. However, in the spirit of rugby, they probably all enjoyed a pint or two together after the game.

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