Injuries in Rugby

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/02/05/even_rugby_unions_fittest_are.html

This post on The Guardian's Blog certainly raised a few eyebrows.

Here was a guy lambasting the natural evolution of the game - bigger hits, more injuries etc

What are we going to do about it?

PREPARE YOURSELF

And is is so that Rugby is all that more dangerous than, say Soccer?

According to a study by Jones et al (2004) every 100 participant hours in school results resulted in 6 times more injuries in Soccer than Rugby (1.92 for Rugby compared to 6.2 per soccer)

So are fitness coaches incorrect in suggesting that Young Persons should be preparing themselves for Rugby with Strength Training.

Absolutely NOT

This is not freakish or a sign of impending doom and gloom with increased injuries.

It is a sign that to play a collision sport you MUST perform some form of Rugby Fitness and injury prevention.

Remember - rugby strength training appears under a huge umbrella of modalities. Bodyweight Training, Dumbbell, Barbbell to name a few.

It is your health insurance.

Here are my three favourite exercises:

1) Isometric Neck Bridges

2) Any form of Shrug

3) Posterior Chain Exercises e.g. Nordic Hamstring Curls, Glute Hamstring Raises

Pop these into your training and rest assured that your chance of injury will be reduced in the areas prone to injury.

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JL

http://www.getfitforrugby.com

The Bionic Rugby Player

You have got to hand it to him.

Warren Gatland is aiming to bring Welsh Rugby into the Lime-Light.

And this is starting with the players - who he views as physically a few degrees away from the high eschelons of the Rugby World.

Having said this, they were not far away from it last week in beating England.

A monumuental rally, that was put down to rugby fitness in the last 1/4 saw the World Cup Runners Up, off rather cheaply.

I suppose it comes from his time at Wasps.

There he was at the coal face of some the games top-level athletes. Big, quick and powerful. The ideal modern day rugby player with rugby fitness to burn.

“The message has to be given to the regions that paying for three or four physios or fitness guys is going to cost less than paying £200,000-a-year for a player,” said Gatland.

“Having three or four fitness or physio guys is going to have much more impact over a season than having one expensive player.

“Let’s get the facilities and structures right. Let’s make sure we leave no stone unturned in all those things, like analysis. Let’s pay attention to those details.”

Gatland believes one of the golden rules of professional sport is that good medical staff, physios and fitness coaches, mean players don’t spend so much time sidelined with injuries.

If you are not doing some form of physcial preparation for the most confrontational and injury prone game in the world then you are officially delusional.

Wake up and smell the coffee before the Bionic Rugby Player runs over you.

JL
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www.getfitforrugby.com

The Welsh X Factor

Some game.

I LOVE the 6 Nations.

A short tournament and at this stage anything can happen.

As a kid I used to love the big match ups - England vs. France or the passionate encounters against the Welsh, Irish and the Scots.

Now the climate has changed.

It is anyone's ball game.

But do you know what?

Fitness is truly becoming the X Factor.

I remember when the top teams were really paving a way on the rugby pitch.

But now anyone can take it. The gap between all nations has truly shrunk.

It was great to hear Shaun Edwards, the Welsh Assistant Coach talk about the difference being the Welsh's fitness in the last 1/4. I couldn't agree more. Rugby Fitness allowed them to sustain the pressure, the chase, the hunt until finally it yielded points.

Where is your X Factor?

Here's to more of the same - even though I am on the receiving end of it!

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John Lark

Author Get Fit for Rugby