Meet the 'Rehab Guy'
Thu, 07 Jun 2007
Just as Madonna and Paris Hilton have their own celebrity trainers, the rugby glitterati seem to be becoming ever more reliant on the skills of American knee guru Bill Knowles to keep creaking players on the field of play.
Foot speed for rugby
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Because rugby is a multi-directional sport, foot speed is vital for effective and efficient positioning, particularly on the advantage line. Missing a tackle or avoiding a defender is often reliant on foot speed.
Mid-season fitness booster
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
If you are midway through the season and you feel as though your fitness needs a boost, here are a few tips. All the strength and conditioning you developed during the pre-season may start to fade – you don't feel so strong during games and begin to struggle for energy during the last 20 minutes. What's the answer? A six-week mid-season fitness booster to enhance your performance and reduce the chances of injury.
Post Match Recovery - Tips for reducing stiffness and restoring energy
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Players are not generally keen to warm-down after a match; they are sore, tired, disappointed (if they lost!) and don't have the energy or inclination to jog around and stretch for 10 minutes.
Get in the Mix!
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Rugby stamina is not just about running - there are frequent changes in running speed, plus various strength and power movements like tackling, rucking, scrummaging and jumping. Therefore, the aim of fuel mix training is to develop a capacity to generate energy and resist fatigue, while performing these activities.
Fitness
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
The fitness section provides you with the latest information and tips on rugby fitness. onathan Kaplan becomes just the eighth referee in South Africa's rugby history to have refereed more than one Currie Cup Final.
FEATURE ARTICLE: What is Core Stability?
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Core stability allows you to push harder, make the hits, and move beyond the opposition.
FUEL MIX FITNESS
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Rugby is not a continuous steady state sport - it requires frequent changes in speed and intensity of effort and is therefore a predominantly anaerobic sport when ball is in play.
MENTAL TOUGHNESS
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
A vital factor to consider is the mental training that parallels your physical training. You must create planned mental skill workouts to develop a level where you are able to maximise training sessions and achieve peak performances consistently in competition.
PLANNING & NUTRITION
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Plan your programme, manage your fluid and food intake and adhere to proven recovery strategies.
SPEED & AGILITY
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
An essential element of successful rugby performance is to accelerate, change direction quickly and deceive the opposition. This requires development of speed and agility.
Row yourself Fit for Rugby!
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
More and more players are turning to the indoor rower as a cross training mode of exercise for rugby fitness. Rowing is a complete form of exercise and provides a combination of cardiovascular and strength conditioning which makes it a great addition to any fitness or training program, for people of all ages, and with a wide variety of fitness goals.
Field based strength and power training
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Rugby is a contact sport that demands frequent and varied applications of strength and power. These elements of fitness are typically developed in the gym by lifting heavy weights, or performing plyometric and medicine ball drills. A third category of strength and power drills are termed 'field based drills' and involve dynamic movements using, for example, sleds, tyres, ropes, cars, sand bags, and even bails of hay!
STRENGTH
Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Players require varying degrees of strength and power depending on the demands of their playing position and the movements being performed. A common feature is the desire to apply strength quickly, such as accelerating, making a big tackle, or jumping in a lineout.
