Rugby union, a sport known for its fierce physicality, strategic gameplay, and unwavering camaraderie, has evolved enormously over the last 30 years. The advent of the professional game changed almost everything about rugby, and this includes the approach to fitness.
In the amateur days, rugby players were renowned for their skills and physical prowess, but there was a distinct lack of structured fitness training. Quite simply, in the good old days of amateurism, players simply didn’t have the time to train as professional players do today. Despite professionalism seeing the introduction of tactical substitutions, today’s players must be able to run faster, tackle harder and play at a far more intense level than ever before.
Today, success on the pitch requires a strategic approach to fitness, conditioning, and injury prevention. In this article, we delve into the indispensable role of fitness trainers in modern rugby, exploring how their expertise is shaping the game and elevating players’ performance to new heights.
Personalised Training
This is a key responsibility of a fitness trainer in modern rugby. Each individual is very different, and of course rugby is a sport that involves different positions, each needing specific physical attributes. For instance, forwards, involved in the physicality of the maul, scrum and line out, need strength, power and mobility to dominate these set pieces. Meanwhile backs will need speed and agility to outwit defenders, but also need to have a strong physical presence to burst through lines and defend against attacks.
Personalised fitness trainers meticulously analyse each player, understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and goals. They then devise training regimes that optimize their performance on the field.
Sports Medicine
It’s no longer a man in a tracksuit with a bucket and sponge, smoking a pipe on the sidelines! The intense demands of modern rugby have made injuries an inherent risk. Fitness trainers work constantly to minimise these risks and when injuries occur, work closely with the player to speed their rehabilitation. Personalised exercises, stretching protocols and warm-up routines help players prepare their bodies for games and lessen the likelihood of injuries such as strains, sprains and muscle tears. When injuries do happen, the fitness trainer will work in tandem with the team medical staff to create a rehabilitation plan tailored to the player and the injury in question, ensuring a quick return to playing.
Endurance and Conditioning
There is no time for an on-field breather in modern rugby – matches last for 80 minutes or more of intense action. Peak physical performance needs to be maintained throughout the match, so excellent conditioning is vital for all positions. Players are pushed to the limit with cardiovascular training, high-intensity interval training and other conditioning techniques to build stamina. Modern rugby is a game played in the head as well as in the body, so fitness trainers work on instilling mental resilience. This is vital both on and off the pitch these days with the media spotlight so often shone on professional athletes across popular sports.
Recovery
Recovery and rest are massively important and must form part of every professional athlete’s routine, and rugby is no exception. Fitness trainers will advise players on the best ways to approach post-match recovery, with special techniques, rest days and sleep forming key planks of their recovery. This also helps to reduce the risk of burnout due to overtraining.
Nutrition
Performance isn’t solely determined by how a player trains or plays, how they behave away from the game is also paramount. What players put into their bodies will influence their performance – so fitness trainers create personalised nutrition plans to ensure their food and drink fuels them for optimum performance.
Technology
Rugby union is an evolving game, just like the world we live in! Technology is evolving and changing our lives at breakneck pace. Anyone looking to start a new career as a personal trainer will need to stay updated with the latest developments in technologies and training methodologies. Wearable fitness devices and trackers provide deep insights into player performance, allowing personalised data to be extracted and used as never before. Trainers can now monitor key metrics such as heart rate, speed and the distance covered during games. Away from the pitch, recovery stats can also be measured. The data allows areas of improvement to be identified to allow each player to maximise their potential!