2015 WHAT A YEAR FOR RUGBY!

 

2015 has definitely started with a bang, some fantastic premiership rugby and also some explosive performances in the European Cups.

But now, brace yourself, take a deep breath because its 6 NATIONS time!

After some unbelievable performances in the Autumn Internationals no one can fully predict what will happen in this years tournament, but here at Rugby Plus we have a few ideas of our own:

SCOTLAND:

With such a strong performance against New Zealand, as well as outstanding wins Argentina and Tonga, we believe Scotland will take a big scalp this year, maybe the best chance is against France in Paris. Scotland should finish strong mid table and also set themselves up for a good run into the World Cup.

ENGLAND:

England’s injury list is getting serious, one or two players is okay but now we are talking some key figures falling to injuries. England have a lot to prove after a weak Autumn Internationals, also preparing for a home World Cup. To rule them out of the running is always foolish but England may just lack what it takes to take them over the line to be champions.

ITALY:

Always a fiery opponent can be found in the Italians, their fast pace and bravery means a game in Rome is never a done deal. Unfortunately the years have not been kind to the Italians, yes they are a great team, but much stronger can be found in the 6 Nations, their best chance of success is to perform well at the World Cup.

WALES:

A dominant Wales is a constant at the 6 Nations, the presence of those red shirts will always strike uncertainty and fear in an opposition. Their eyes firmly fixed on World Cup glory they see this tournament as the perfect step to secure the ultimate goal. Can Wales rise to be the 6 Nations Champions? Maybe, they are always a strong runner but maybe not the best in the field.

FRANCE:

The biggest problem facing France is the inconsistency, beating Fiji and Australia only to be taken down by the Argentines. This 6 Nations is a time to right some wrongs and to show Europe, and the world, that France is a strong rugby nation again. This year they could cause the big upset and steal a few good wins.

IRELAND:

Can we fault the current Champions? Their performances during the Autumn Internationals left everyone in awe of their skills. Joe Schmidt has brought together a fantastic mix of young and old to create a eclectic harmony of the hard basics as well as show stopping skills. Ireland are definitely our favorites to lift the trophy again, but a Grand slam may just be out of reach. 

Who do you think will win?
Is there a Grand slam possibility?
Any shock results on their way?

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Football, a game for gentlemen played by hooligans. Rugby, a game for hooligans played by gentlemen.

Football has often been described as the ‘Beautiful Game’ but yet it is Rugby players who are most widely known to be some of the nicest people you will ever meet. The big towering figures of Paul O’Connell, Chris Robshaw or Alun Wyn Jones can seem terrifying but yet they really are big softies off the pitch.

This week Toulon prop Martin Castrogiovanni, though lived up to his large and terrifying stature and was handed a fine of €10,000 and a 4 match ban (suspended) for his choice words after Toulons loss to Leicester Tigers earlier this month. After the game Castrogiovanni gave, not so much an interview, but a rant to the media about his old club.

Leicester Tigers coach, Richard Cockerill, laughed off his rant and even offered that in the future the two men could meet up and laugh about this whole situation. Unfortunately a disciplinary panel disagreed with this and thought a punishment was more fitting.

Castrogiovanni pleaded guilty and apologised for his remarks. His fine will be paid to a Leicester based charity and his suspended ban will not take effect until April 30^th 2016, although it can be brought forward if Castrogiovanni goes on another rant.

Is the ban to heavy? Is does the punishment fit the crime?

Respect is key to sportsmanship!

INJURED! HURT! OUT!

After grueling and tough autumn internationals the injury list is mounting up. Two injuries come to mind, the South African Jean De Villiers and Ireland's Chris Henry.

De Villiers will have to have reconstructive surgery on his knee, after a crunching tackle in the game against Wales on Saturday. While Henry has had an operation on his heart, as a result of a blood vessel in his brain was blocked. Both of these young men have had fantastic careers but both face a long and tough recovery back to the game. In time for the World Cup? Maybe not!

SO HOW DO WE AVOID BAD INJURIES?

Some injuries are unavoidable, big tackles happen and sometimes we are just unlucky. The best way to prepare for a game, and to rule out avoidable injuries, is to:

1)    Stretch – Before the game have a good warm up and ensure you have stretched well.

2)    Train – In training practice tackling but also being hit, falling correctly and safely can prevent many injuries.

3)    Safety – Make sure you have a gum shield in at all times and also wear any other IRB approved protective gear you have. E.g. Headguards, Shoulder pads etc…

WHAT TO DO WHEN WE ARE HURT?

Injuries are a part of the game, we cannot fully avoid them but we can learn how to do deal with them when they occur. Here are our top tips to recovery:

1)    TELL someone – Make sure you inform a coach as soon as your injured, do not try and play when you know your hurt.

2)    REST – This might seem simple, but many players rush back to the game before their bodies are ready, risking further injury.

3)    BUILD the muscle back – Give your body time to get back to its strength, muscles need time to heal and time to get strong again.

4)    LEARN from your injury – You may always have to be a little careful with your body after some injuries, make sure you learn how to play and train so to build your strength back and be cautious of recurring injuries.

If you do have an injury, or are requiring more/new protective gear we have a full range here at RugbyPlus just call in store or shop online.

But injuries are a part of the game, we all get covered in mud, blood and bruises.

Always play for a love of the game!  

Autum International first weekend!

THE WAIT IS OVER!

This weekend begins the long awaited Autumn Internationals series. This year the home nations are being treated to the likes of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina alongside the smaller nations of Tsonga, Samoa and Fiji. With such strong performances in the Pro12 and the Aviva premiership there really is a fantastic crop of players to pick from.

The Demons Down South!

Although we can not rule out the visitors in any game, with the recent Quad-Nations just over. The mighty powerhouses of New Zealand and South Africa are never an easy team to face. Facts and statistics though do not always prove true in rugby, with South Africa beating New Zealand recently, and fielding this winning team against Ireland on Saturday.

Can Scotland Deliver?

Here are RugbyPlus the most important game this weekend is definitely Scotland v Argentina. For Scotland this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase what we have to offer before the 2015 World Cup. After Grant Gilchrist was ruled out of the series after fracturing his forearm in Edinburgh Rugby’s win over Lyon in the Challenge Cup. But now the leadership passes to Greig Laidlaw, captaining this country for the 8^th time.

RugbyPlus wish Laidlaw, and the entire Scotland team, good luck for Saturday! Will you be at Murrayfield? Lets all stand up for Scotland and proudly belt out “O Flower of Scotland”.

Remember for all your Scotland, or Argentina, kit come to us at RugbyPlus, online or in store.

The Rules of Touch Rugby

As a derivative of rugby, ‘touch rugby’ involves far less physical contact than traditional rugby, despite its name. In fact, the game resembles the playground game of ‘tag’ only with a ball. As one of the most popular field sports among young people, the game has taken off in a big way in the last few years and now even has its own league in the UK and worldwide.

The rules of the game aren’t complicated and therefore it is a great sport for people who like to stay fit, but don’t particularly like too much rough contact. Many children get into rugby through playing touch rugby, so we thought parents (and other sports fans) should understand the rules in order to show their support.

 “Touch World Cup 2011” by Ian Robertson, licenced under CC BY 2.0

Touch Rugby Basics

1 - Each team has six players on the field at any one time. However, they can have as many reserves as they like.

2 - As a game of two halves—pardon the pundit reference—each side lasts twenty minutes. The half time break is only one minute long and then play continues.

3 – Kick-off, restarts and penalties all begin with the ball being placed on the ground and the lead team ‘tap’ it into play with a foot. However, the ball is then picked up. During these moments, the defending side have to be at least ten whole metres from the starting point.

4 – Scoring a try happens when the ball is placed behind the defence’s try-line and must be placed there by hand—somewhat similar to a touchdown in American football.

5 – Tackles are replaced by touches. Legal touching is claimed when a player touches any legitimate part of another body including clothing or ball and must raise a hand to declare. All decisions are at the referee’s discretion and are final.

6 – When a player receives a touch he or she has to put the ball on the ground exactly at the point where the contact took place.

7 – Every six touches signifies a change of possession and the opposing team retains the balls. The team in attack then starts with a ‘first down’—again in much the same way as American football.

Enjoying the Game

These are the basics to get you started. Hopefully now you won’t feel totally ignorant if your child plays and uses the terminology! If you understand tag, rugby and a little American football you can pretty much piece the rest together. It is not complicated, but it is excellent fun and a great way to play a non-contact sport to keep fit.

The Nutritional Needs of a Rugby Player

You have heard plenty of mothers saying that their sons need a healthy protein-rich diet because they are a growing boy. This is true of any sportsman too. Certain foods, as we are very well aware, are very unhealthy for us, but some foods are particularly bad for people who engage in sports activities.  Finding a proper balanced diet when you play rugby is vital to your playing ability as well as your overall fitness levels. If you eat a burger and have a beer on Friday night with a game on Saturday, there’s every chance you will be on the bench after ten minutes of play. You will be lethargic, sluggish and more than likely unfocused.

“Sue’s favourite trail mix” by Cary Bass-Deschenes, licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0

Fatty foods

There are good fatty foods and bad fatty foods—unfortunately donuts and takeaways always fall into the bad category—so you need to know which fats will improve your diet. Despite some schools of thought, you do need fat in your food, just not as much as you think. Good fats are found in things like olive oil, nuts and avocado so try incorporate these into your sportsman’s diet to keep energy levels high.

Carbs

Just like fatty foods, there are good carbs and bad carbs. Pasta is a good carb because it has slow-release capabilities that make you feel fuller for longer. Just ensure your pasta isn’t loaded with unhealthy creamy or cheesy sauces. You should, as a rugby player, make sure you eat around 7 grams of good carbs for every kilogram of your body weight. This will keep you going when your training regime is intense.

Proteins

For each kilogram of your body weight, you should safely consume about 2 grams of good protein. This can be in the form of whey protein which is highly common among rugby players, bodybuilders and weight trainers. Protein helps build and maintain muscle mass and therefore it is the most essential ingredient in a rugby player’s diet.

“Water Boy” by funkblast, licenced under CC BY 2.0

Stay Hydrated

Don’t forget to stay hydrated. The body is made up of about 4/5’s water and you need to stay hydrated to prevent fatigue. Drink about 2 litres of water every day in the warm weather and about 1.5 litres during the cooler months. It is also essential to rehydrate after exercises so listen to your body and allow proper recovery.

Keeping to a strict diet when training will help improve your overall performance and support your muscle growth. Get in touch with our knowledgeable team if you require any more advice on getting the best out of our diet.

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.