A really, really good piece of advice.

I spent years mulling – then had a supposedly 'temp' one that was intended to last about six years. Half had faded in three months, but it gave me the chance to see that I liked having a tat. I then had it redone – properly.

Sixteen years later, I finally got around to having a really serious piece of work done: it's on an upper arm, so I can hide it or not; this is actually worth considering too. This was a really good studio and I worked with the artists to come up with a unique design.

It's not sports related – I'm convinced I'll jinx any team I support if I have a club tat: perhaps I should have a Man U one, then?

The first one has worn badly – it was always a mess, really, done cheaply etc – so I'm now exploring cover-ups, plus one or two other ideas. But from purely personal experience, I'm glad that I took the time and made sure I got something that really works for me.

Taking your time gives you the opportunity to have a serious look at tattoos people have had done on the same theme – and even to ask any friends who are artistic if they have any ideas.

Whatever you decide to do, don't opt for cheap – a good tattoo can cost hundreds, but you have to live with it, so it's worth it. Consider it as a piece of artwork on your skin: do you want a Rembrandt or your local graffiti artist?

Check the work a studio does and, indeed, what work an individual artist does. Not every tattoo artist will be best suited for every subject. Make absolutely sure that a studio is licensed by the council – this helps ensure basic hygiene such as clean needles for each customer.

Get some magazines on the subject, check the internet – and look at styles as well as subjects.

And if you decide to go ahead – then enjoy the experience as well as as the result (drink a sugary drink before a session – it does help ).

Tattoos used to be a symbol of individuality and personal expression; they seem to have been appropriated by the mainstream now, to the extent that not having any is more of a symbol of individuality and free thinking expressionism than the ubiqutous sleeve or sailor tats.

I'm not especially ar$ed, and I certainly don't favour curtailing people's right to do what they like with their own body, but I can't help thinking that the 18-25 year olds who are covered in ink now as a fashion statement, will have some serious buyer's remorse when they enter the grown up world and want/need to be taken seriously.

Fashions change and a lot of the tattoos I see on young'uns these days are purely fashion statements. Will those full sleeves down both arms or the retro sailor look still look good in 10 years time, especially if they decide they no longer want to work in a barbers shop or be an expressive creative?

I mulled over a tattoo about 12 years ago and did pretty much the same as what Orrell Lad advises. It took me quite a while to decide what I wanted but when I was set on it I gave it a year of thought and decided I'd made the right decision by not getting it done. Now I look back and thank my lucky stars I didn't go through with it, I'd have looked a right wally!

Going back to the OP. Rhinos related? What if they drop the Rhinos moniker in a few years time? It's just happened with Wakefield and I've seen loads of the (now) old Wildcats logo tats at games over the years.

That's kind of my point; as a child of the 80's, I have made some truly horrendous fashion statements, particularly during my new romantic phase. Thankfully, I'm not stuck with the eyeshadow and enormous hair for life - which seems to be the fate of those who choose tattoos as a fashion statement.

Tattoos... yuk!
A tattoo is tat too.

I was going to get a tattoo for my birthday but i don't think the neighbours would appreciate bagpipes