---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're removal men. It's hard labour. I've…"
description: "\"We're removal men. It's hard labour. I've come to the conclusion being a forward is probably the worst thing in rugby. Looking at backs, they play kick..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/james-haskell-5960_backs_we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve_2784065.jpg"
---

#  We're removal men. It's hard labour. I've come to the…

![“We're removal men. It's hard labour. I've come to the conclusion being a forward is probably the worst thing in rugby. Looking at backs, they play kick and laugh, run and clap and we get absolutely flogged.” quote by James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/james-haskell-5960_backs_we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve_2784065.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/james-haskell-5960_backs_we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve_2784065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/james-haskell-5960_backs_we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve_2784065.jpg)

> “We're removal men. It's hard labour. I've come to the conclusion being a forward is probably the worst thing in rugby. Looking at backs, they play kick and laugh, run and clap and we get absolutely flogged.”

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Playing as a forward involves intense physical work and frequent tackling, making it feel more grueling than the backs' roles.

**In simple terms:** Forwards do hard, physical work; backs seem more relaxed.

Key Takeaway

Respect the effort of forwards.

Themes

rugby teamwork physicality

Mood

determined reflective

Type

sports motivational

When to use this quote

- training sessions
- match day
- team strategy
- player morale

Key Concepts

role dynamics workload distribution

Questions to Reflect On

- How does physical demand shape a forward’s mindset?
- What can backs learn from forwards’ resilience?

A Different Perspective

Some may argue backs also face high pressure in decision‑making.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Backs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backs/) [Backs Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backs-play-3332227/) [Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forward/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Removal Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/removal-men-3332228/) [Rugby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rugby/) [Rugby Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rugby-looking-3332226/) [Thing Rugby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-rugby-3332225/) [Worst thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-thing/)

## Related quotes

> [“The thing about rugby is this: You can hate a guy off the pitch who will save your fucking balls on the pitch when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bosma/the-thing-about-rugby-is-this-you-can-hate-a-guy-off-the-pitch-who/)

[Sam Bosma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bosma/)

> [In the future if I do get to go back on to the wing I feel like I know how full backs play and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/in-the-future-if-i-do-get-to-go-back-on-to-the-wing-i-feel-like-i/)

[Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/)

> [In reality, rugby is finite and unpredictable, so players need to have skills off the pitch too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/in-reality-rugby-is-finite-and-unpredictable-so-players-need-to-have/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [If anyone out there is mildly curious about rugby, I'd recommend a weekend spent watching the Six Nations. I don't think you'll be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/if-anyone-out-there-is-mildly-curious-about-rugby-i-d-recommend-a/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [It was so important to have stuff outside of rugby so you have a life balance. I took a lot of criticism for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/it-was-so-important-to-have-stuff-outside-of-rugby-so-you-have-a-life/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [As a rugby player I got into the habit of tackling without thinking. But in MMA you've got to land the right way. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/as-a-rugby-player-i-got-into-the-habit-of-tackling-without-thinking/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [International rugby is an unforgiving arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/international-rugby-is-an-unforgiving-arena/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [In rugby I think it is good to have a bit of a persona, a bit of a character because we are one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/in-rugby-i-think-it-is-good-to-have-a-bit-of-a-persona-a-bit-of-a/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [Going to a final and winning is the best thing in life, and it makes rugby no longer a job. It makes it fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/going-to-a-final-and-winning-is-the-best-thing-in-life-and-it-makes/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [Rugby is a sport in which you can lose heavily one week and still come back and smash the opposition the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/rugby-is-a-sport-in-which-you-can-lose-heavily-one-week-and-still/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [I've always been confident in my rugby ability but with England I had to adjust my behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-ve-always-been-confident-in-my-rugby-ability-but-with-england-i-had/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [When I left rugby and bought my first commercial gym membership it was a shock to the system. I went in there and saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/when-i-left-rugby-and-bought-my-first-commercial-gym-membership-it/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [I've lost count of the times I've been asked what I do for a living. When I say rugby people say: 'Yes, but what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-ve-lost-count-of-the-times-i-ve-been-asked-what-i-do-for-a-living/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [A lot of people make the error of thinking rugby is going to last forever and they need to quickly discover that that isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/a-lot-of-people-make-the-error-of-thinking-rugby-is-going-to-last/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [I refuse to say things behind people's backs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-refuse-to-say-things-behind-people-s-backs/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

## More by James Haskell

> [Going to Stade Francais will not just make me a better player but make me a better player for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/going-to-stade-francais-will-not-just-make-me-a-better-player-but/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [It's important as a team that you don't get too excited with a win and you don't get too disappointed with a loss. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/it-s-important-as-a-team-that-you-don-t-get-too-excited-with-a-win/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [A lot of people make the error of thinking rugby is going to last forever and they need to quickly discover that that isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/a-lot-of-people-make-the-error-of-thinking-rugby-is-going-to-last/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [I was always on to the next thing. I didn't celebrate all the little moments in my career that I should have done, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-was-always-on-to-the-next-thing-i-didn-t-celebrate-all-the-little/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [I've lost count of the times I've been asked what I do for a living. When I say rugby people say: 'Yes, but what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-ve-lost-count-of-the-times-i-ve-been-asked-what-i-do-for-a-living/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [When I left rugby and bought my first commercial gym membership it was a shock to the system. I went in there and saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/when-i-left-rugby-and-bought-my-first-commercial-gym-membership-it/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [There's no doubt that 'the plank' is one of the best core exercises on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/there-s-no-doubt-that-the-plank-is-one-of-the-best-core-exercises-on/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [Someone once told me I looked like Mr Incredible out of 'The Incredibles.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/someone-once-told-me-i-looked-like-mr-incredible-out-of-the/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [You bring your strength to the game - that's what I've learnt, and that's what I try to bring to England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/you-bring-your-strength-to-the-game-that-s-what-i-ve-learnt-and-that/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [When I am doing something I give it 100 per cent. I work on it, do it and go onto the next thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/when-i-am-doing-something-i-give-it-100-per-cent-i-work-on-it-do-it/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [I'm always pretty fair-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-m-always-pretty-fair-handed/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [My best games for England were under Eddie Jones. Eddie got the best out of me. He understood that I needed an arm around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/my-best-games-for-england-were-under-eddie-jones-eddie-got-the-best/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [People talk a lot about the Welsh fans but English supporters are also among the world's best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/people-talk-a-lot-about-the-welsh-fans-but-english-supporters-are/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [I've always been confident in my rugby ability but with England I had to adjust my behaviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-ve-always-been-confident-in-my-rugby-ability-but-with-england-i-had/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

> [Rugby is a sport in which you can lose heavily one week and still come back and smash the opposition the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/rugby-is-a-sport-in-which-you-can-lose-heavily-one-week-and-still/)

[James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

[Explore all 100 James Haskell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/)

## More Backs quotes

> [I refuse to say things behind people's backs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-refuse-to-say-things-behind-people-s-backs/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

> [I don't think anyone went the polls and said, 'I am casting my vote to make sure that Wall Street has better chances to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-don-t-think-anyone-went-the-polls-and-said-i-am-casting-my-vote-to/)

[Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/)

> [We, the artists, make the stuff they sell and they're like ticks on our backs, sucking the life out of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wilson/we-the-artists-make-the-stuff-they-sell-and-they-re-like-ticks-on-our/)

[Malcolm Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wilson/)

> [Just as we should never balance the budget on the backs of the poor, so it is an economic delusion to think you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/just-as-we-should-never-balance-the-budget-on-the-backs-of-the-poor/)

[George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/)

> [I don't think running backs have ever been under-valued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cowher/i-don-t-think-running-backs-have-ever-been-under-valued/)

[Bill Cowher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cowher/)

> [~Its funny when your family turn their backs on you when you've done everything for them… ~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-gone/its-funny-when-your-family-turn-their-backs-on-you-when-you-ve-done/)

[She's\_gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/she-s-gone/)

> [When the phonies are expelled from their leadership roles and the Republican Party backs a moderate gubernatorial candidate acceptable to the rank and file…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/when-the-phonies-are-expelled-from-their-leadership-roles-and-the/)

[Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/)

> [Jules: You scratch our backs, we'll scratch yours. Seth: Well Jules, the funny thing about my back is that it's located on my cock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superbad/jules-you-scratch-our-backs-we-ll-scratch-yours-seth-well-jules-the/)

[Superbad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/superbad/)

> [“Set backs are bumps in the road, they are not the end of the roads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-greene/set-backs-are-bumps-in-the-road-they-are-not-the-end-of-the-roads/)

[Bob Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-greene/)

> [I can consider not only great art, but the context in which that art has been created. I can consider the people who paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/i-can-consider-not-only-great-art-but-the-context-in-which-that-art/)

[Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/)

> [The self-made man that some people believe is a myth? It could be, because you do it on the backs of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/the-self-made-man-that-some-people-believe-is-a-myth-it-could-be/)

[Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/)

> [At fullback you have a little bit more defensive responsibility. You have to help out with your center backs a little bit more. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-yedlin/at-fullback-you-have-a-little-bit-more-defensive-responsibility-you/)

[DeAndre Yedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-yedlin/)

> [ \[W\]e must stop trying to protect our planet from every imaginable, exaggerated or imaginary risk. And we must stop trying to protect it on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niger-innis/w-e-must-stop-trying-to-protect-our-planet-from-every-imaginable/)

[Niger Innis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niger-innis/)

> [Every guy has different strengths in the NFL. Receivers are different, running backs are different, but they all have that one thing that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fitzgerald/every-guy-has-different-strengths-in-the-nfl-receivers-are-different/)

[Larry Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fitzgerald/)

> [placid, adj. Sometimes I love it when we just lie on our backs, gaze off, stay still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/placid-adj-sometimes-i-love-it-when-we-just-lie-on-our-backs-gaze-off/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

[Browse all 111 Backs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backs/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We're removal men. It's hard labour. I've come to the conclusion being a forward is probably the worst thing in rugby. Looking at backs, they play kick and laugh, run and clap and we get absolutely flogged.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Haskell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve-come-to-the-conclusion-being/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Backs"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve-come-to-the-conclusion-being/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/james-haskell-5960_backs_we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve_2784065.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/james-haskell-5960_backs_we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve_2784065.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/james-haskell-5960_backs_we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve_2784065.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We're removal men. It's hard labour. I've come to the conclusion being a forward is probably the worst thing…” — James Haskell",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "James Haskell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We're removal men. It's hard labour....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve-come-to-the-conclusion-being/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/we-re-removal-men-it-s-hard-labour-i-ve-come-to-the-conclusion-being/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
