Who still plays rugby with Gloves on???

Off the top of my head I can name two and a half professional players, One is cool the other one and a half are useless in my opinion. Shaun Sowerby, Andy Goode and Earl Rose (yes, you guessed it, the half a pro). Why on earth do they do it and does it help?

Seriously, I think its a load of rubbish that players, at any level, should wear gloves! I have to be honest many years ago when they were in fashion I did own a pair for a season and wore them. Are they still in fashion? Are they still cool? Well looking at these three above mentioned examples, the answer is an emphatic NO! Shaun Sowerby could possibly make them cool and get a few points for it but the amount of negative points Goode and Rose bring to the table you would probably need 15 Sowerby's to get out of the red.

It just isn't cool at all anymore, but my opinion shouldn't count for too much unless I actually dissect the reason for them wearing gloves first.

Shaun Sowerby (Club: Toulouse, France)
OK, he brings in a massive coolness factor into the mix, and most times he wears gloves matching his kit (still trying to decide if that's a positive or a negative).
Functionality: He's an 8th man and top line out jumper, so there is an element of function there.
Image: Matches his kit and looks good, definitely part of his image and that counts in his favour. 
This scores 5/10

Andy Goode (Club: Worcester, England)
I am trying to put his Ricky Januarie stature (extremely short and wide) and ridiculous comb-over aside as I rate him so , unfortunately coolness is out the picture.
Functionality: He is predominantly a fly-half and that does require receiving loads of ball, so there is a slight element of function there but he often misses the balls passed to him! FAIL!
Image: You can't really add this as part of his image as there is a slight distraction with poor play, comb-over and Ricky's diet. Having said that he has played with them since he started rugby in the 90's
This scores 1/10

Earl Rose (Club: not sure out to pasture hopefully, South African Wilderness)
Wow, if you have never seen a sponsor throw up on you then have a look at a few images of Earl the Pearl playing a game. It doesn't look cool and sure as hell is only there to bank some Rands.
Functionality: None at all, he is either warming the bench or playing extremely badly at fly-half or fullback. OK OK OK, teeny weeny functionality for keeping hands warm on the bench.
Image: None. Apart from the fact it came as a package deal to hide his identity while playing.
This scores -9/10

So, there you have it, the combined scores of 'Are Gloves Cool?' -3/30 EPIC FAIL. They are not cool and should be banned. Who else wears gloves while playing? I don't think there is another pro or half a pro that does!

SA Players Abroad: Daan Human (Toulouse)

Daan Human has been capped 4 times for the Springboks and 26 times for the Stormers. We mostly remember the name but since he left the South African shores after the 2004 SupeRugby season we have only heard bits and bobs about this 6ft 2in prop.
Since 2004 he has been learning a bit of French and teaching a whole lot about scrummaging at Toulouse in the French Top 14 and Heineken Cup. He has been capped 139 times in the Top14 and 41 times in the Heineken Cup. Alongside team mate Shaun Sowerby, Human is making a mark in European Rugby.

Toulouse face Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Ireland on April 30 2011, as they both fight it out for a place in the Heineken Cup Final.

SA Players Abroad: Shaun Sowerby (Toulouse)

Shaun Sowerby has been a great loss to South African Rugby. Only capped once for the Springboks against Samoa, Sowerby left the Sharks for a very successful career in France with both Stade Francais (2004-2007) and Toulouse (2007-present).
Richard Shaun Sowerby was born on July 1st 1978. His preferred position is 8th man. He stands at 1.93m tall and weighs 108kg's.
He has been the first choice 8th man for both teams barring injury and has won both the Heineken Cup as well as the French Top 14.