Scene from the past of vulgar rugby player (9)
I believe the answer is:
flashback
'scene from the past' is the definition.
(eg film scene showing the past)
'vulgar rugby player' is the wordplay.
'vulgar' becomes 'flash' (synonyms).
'rugby player' becomes 'back' (type of rugby player).
'flash'+'back'='FLASHBACK'
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for flashback that I've seen before include "Sudden recall" , "Past scene inserted into a film's chronology" , "Scene depicting previous events" , "Echo of the past" , "(Transition to) earlier scene" .)