How to Choose Protective Equipment

Recently the NFL—National Football League— in the United States have been discussing the safety of players as some have been suffering head injuries due to the brutality of the game. If only they could see just how rough rugby is sometimes where players don’t have any of the protection that NFL players do. We think they would be pretty shocked! Rugby is rough on players and there are only a few choices of protective wear to purchase. For instance, NFL players were helmets, gum shields, shin and shoulder pads, elbow protectors and of course cups. Rugby players have far fewer options so buying the right kind of protective wear is absolutely vital. Here are some of our main suggestions to choose the best protection for you.

“US Women’s Rugby: NC Hustlers vs Midwest II” by Kelseye, licenced under CC BY 2.0

Body pads and headgear

In rugby, depending on your position, you can wear a head guard. This is commonly referred to as a scrum cap and is used to protect the ears when in a scrum. The best way to choose a good scrum cap is to look for the solid protection from a high strength material. It can’t be made of stiff materials like plastic but should be made of a hardwearing material with padding over the ears. This can prevent some additional cuts and abrasions but won’t reduce the likelihood of concussion.

Shoulder pads are not commonly worn in rugby, but they are growing in stature among professional and amateur players alike. They are not similar to the American football shoulder pads, but are instead discreet protection built into clothing. You should check the amount of impact protection between various makes and brands. You should also make sure they are breathable because your skin can suffer and you can become seriously dehydrated on hot days. Remember that shoulder pads are not meant to be worn with a view to rushing another player. They are meant to reduce the impact if you are rushed or accidentally banged.

“Blood makes the grass grow” by Anthony Georgis

Mouthguards 

We’ve all seen how rough rugby can get so it is essential to protect your teeth from any nasty knocks. Mouthguards come in a variety of different materials and it is often up to personal preference when choosing the best one. They will mould round your mouth to ensure the best protection and help prevent the risk of being knocked out

All in all, safety in rugby boils down to being cautious whilst not allowing it to affect your playing skills. Noses get broken, teeth get knocked out and shoulders get dislocated all the time, but having as much protection as possible can at least reduce the higher risks.