It’s not uncommon in other sports to see players sniffing or inhaling something before a match, or even during breaks in play. This wasn’t something that happened in rugby, but it’s now being seen more and more. So, what are the rugby players sniffing and why? It’s generally one of two things: smelling salts or … Read more
What is the difference between firm ground and soft ground boots? Do players need two different pairs of cleats? Or can they use one type for all matches? This article explains why there are two types of rugby boots. Then we’ll look in detail at the differences between them, and which is best for your … Read more
Historically, rugby boots were made of leather with metal studs. Modern manufacturing has introduced different combinations of materials. This article breaks down a rugby boot into different areas and looks at the most typical materials in that part of the boot. There are also differences between what cheaper and more expensive rugby boots are made … Read more
If you watch footage of rugby matches from the nineties, you’ll notice quite a few differences. One of the most obvious is that modern rugby players wear tight shirts. Why has the style changed so much? Is it just a matter of fashion? No, there are very serious match-winning reasons for tight shirts. Why Do … Read more
You’ve probably noticed that many professional rugby players have a lump on the back of their shirts between their shoulder blades. This is often called a GPS tracker, but these devices measure a lot more than the position on the pitch. This article takes an in-depth look at trackers in rugby. What is the Lump … Read more
When you watch a rugby match, you may notice that some players wear shoulder pads and some don’t. It’s not as obvious as in American Football where the pads are much bigger. But why are shoulder pads much smaller in Rugby Union? And why don’t all players wear them? Read on for some fascinating answers. … Read more
The first time I saw grip spray used in rugby was during the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour in South Africa. The Lions were playing an invitational team, the Royal XVs. A young Irish winger kept dropping the ball, and a physio came onto the pitch and vigorously sprayed his palms. It’s fairly common … Read more
This article isn’t about trophies. We review whether rugby players wear protective cups under their shorts. We take a look at the laws around protective gear, and why some players prefer to wear cups and some never do. But first, let’s look quickly at what kind of kit we’re talking about. Cups, Jockstraps, And Compression … Read more
Many players like to stretch a new pair of rugby cleats before playing a competitive match. But don’t believe everything you hear or read about how to stretch cleats. The wrong advice can damage the material in modern rugby boots. This article gives you our best recommendations. And we’ll point out some techniques to avoid! … Read more
When you watch a rugby match, you’ll notice that players don’t wear eye black. This is in contrast to sports like American football and baseball. Could a rugby player gain an advantage on the field by wearing the eye grease or stickers that NFL players use? Or would they be told by the referee that … Read more
