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Rugby Fitness

on April 29, 2024

Rugby Fitness: Strength and Conditioning

Overview

Creating programmes for rugby fitness training is one of the sport's most difficult yet rewarding jobs. Why? Due to the intense demands of the game, becoming a rugby player requires high levels of all fitness attributes. Athletes of diverse sizes and shapes are also present, and the physical requirements for each position vary. Utilising a range of fitness training techniques is both challenging and exciting. Another difficulty is that every athlete reacts differently to a given training programme. As a result, you need a wide range of fitness training techniques and know which ones to apply when working with different athletes.

Rugby requires a physical conditioning that is becoming more and more crucial. Players in the modern game are growing larger and the game is increasing faster. Players that are well-conditioned not only play rugby more effectively but also have a lower chance of injury. The article provide a brief information on the rugby fitness as related to strength and conditioning.

Periodization

Periodization is a program of structured variety that fitness coaches should use. This means that the rugby year can be divided into these distinct areas of focus. Every training year phase is usually assigned a specific focus by the resistance training programs.

Physical Conditioning Programs

Programs for physical conditioning that aim to improve athletes' physical capabilities are another useful strategy for lowering injury rates. Strength training in particular may reduce injuries sustained in contact situations. Consequently, physical conditioning should be promoted for rugby players at all levels. There is a misconception that weight training will impede growth in prepubescent and adolescent athletes. There is no scientific evidence to support this myth, and a number of medical, health, and professional organizations argue that juvenile resistance training has benefits as long as the program is properly planned, supervised, uses safe techniques, and is free of competition. It has been demonstrated that resistance training, in particular, is essential for preventing injuries in young athletes. Thus, it can be said that putting in place a well-thought-out resistance training program would not only provide young and experienced rugby players with a competitive edge throughout their careers, but it will also lower their chance of getting hurt.

Building Muscle for Rugby

Building muscle for rugby shouldn't be difficult. However, it is crucial to grow because it is the starting point from which all other qualities can be built. This formula will provide you with a foundation for strength training, ensuring that you can achieve your desired level of strength.

Workout Routines

Large complex workouts are the greatest to employ since they enable consistent, continuous improvement. Consider it. You will reach a plateau with a bicep curl or lateral raise in a matter of weeks, even if you can increase the weight on a squat or deadlift for years! Top workouts:

  • Squats
  • Deadlifting
  • Olympic Lifts
  • Pulls Down Rows
  • Dips & Chins

If you apply progression to your work, even as a beginner, you can get stronger with most loads. Although a range allows for some variation, lifting of RM is recommended for more experienced athletes and optimal outcomes. Research has once again demonstrated that you can advance with any rep range; nevertheless, three sets of three reps yield the greatest outcomes for maximal strength growth. And based only on experience, the majority of set rep schemes that are successful stick to this.

Top Set Rep Schemes:

  • 5 by 5
  • 3×3; 5×3; 4×4
  • 3 x 5 x 4/3

Training Frequency

Don't just blindly adopt a body part split program from a muscle magazine while you're trying to grow stronger. Frequency is necessary for strength training in order to practice technique and allow the nervous system to adjust. For strength, whole body workouts or an upper/lower split work well. Top Plans for Training Frequency:

  • Monday: Higher Thursday, Lower Tuesday Whole Body Saturday: The match
  • Complete Body on Tuesday and Thursday Saturday: Off-season game
  • Wednesday, the entire body on Monday Friday: Whole Body - Whole Body
  • Monday: Less Tuesday: Higher Thursday: Less Saturday and Friday: Upper

Consistency is the main thing that prevents one from becoming stronger. Establishing protocols and programs that enable players to continuously train at the recommended level in order to meet their strength goals is a challenge for rugby players and coaches. If we locked the players in the gym and left them on their own, they'd get stronger.

Off-Season Training:

  1. Resistance Training: During the off-season, rugby players should focus on resistance training to develop muscle size and improve their performance. 
  2. Muscle Growth: Players with advanced gym experience may complete up to six training sessions per week during the muscular hypertrophy phase.
  3. Fitness Conditioning: The required amount of fitness conditioning varies based on factors such as fitness levels and body fat percentage. Each athlete should receive a customized prescription for fitness and conditioning. 
  4. Trade-off Between Muscle Growth and Endurance: There is a trade-off between muscular growth and endurance training. 

Pre-Season and In-Season Training:

  1. Strength Development: Strength is essential at the highest level of rugby, and low repetition counts are best for increasing strength. 
  2. Power Development: Lighter weights are best for power exercises, such as Olympic-style workouts like power clean, hang clean, and hang-pull. 

Specialized Fitness Conditioning: As the season approaches, focus should shift to more specialized fitness conditioning, including aerobic and anaerobic interval training, match-specific conditioning drills, static exertions, leg power, maximal intensity sprinting, and agility.

In-Season Maintenance:

  1. Maintaining Strength, Power, and Fitness: During the in-season, the primary focus should be on maintaining the levels of strength, power, and fitness attained during the pre-season. 
  2. Practice Management: Coaches should keep practices brief and focused to minimize the physical and mental strain from long seasons. Players should be monitored, and workloads should be adjusted based on tiredness indicators. Effective monitoring of players, adopting recovery measures, and ensuring optimal recovery each week are critical for optimal performance.

Phase of Transition/Recovery

After a season, the transition phase, also known as the active rest phase, is crucial for proper recovery. You must take this recovery phase for the good of your physical body.

Conclusion

Maintaining physical fitness through strength training and appropriate conditioning is the magic cure for a phenomenon known as success. You can succeed in the same by following the above-mentioned guide! Wishing you luck!

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