Injuries are just part and parcel of the game of rugby, with there being no way to eradicate the dangers and pitfalls of such a physical and gruelling sport. This can often mean that pro players find themselves battling to keep their careers going, just as amateur players try to find the excuse needed to carry on for one more season.
However, there are some tried and tested injury prevention techniques which can reduce the risks involved. These can range from staying hydrated before a game, all the way through to ensuring that players wear their kit properly. Here we take a look at some of the most salient ways that rugby pros and amateurs can ensure they keep injuries to a minimum.
Skull Caps and Gum Shields Are a Must
This might seem obvious to many seasoned players, but it is still amazing quite how many players march out onto the field of play without a gum shield. Of course, a gum shield is vital to ensure that all of your teeth are intact by the time the game is done.
Other protective gear that is not strictly necessary but can help to reduce injuries includes skull caps and protection vests, both of which are highly advisable for those front row players who have to put themselves about for the full 80 minutes.
Everyone knows just what a physically punishing game rugby can be, but there are steps that players can take to minimise the risk of pain and injury
Contacts Safer than Glasses or Goggles
While muscle injuries are sometimes unavoidable in rugby, eye injuries are usually quite uncommon, as long as there is not a dirty player out there on the pitch doing a bit of gouging during a maul or scrum. Another way in which eye injuries can occur in rugby is when a player decides to use eyewear rather than contact lenses. The dangers here are obvious, as broken lenses or frames could do some serious damage to eyes, whereas contact lenses are better suited for the lumps and bumps that a rugby player has to endure. For people whose eye shape does not adhere to the use of contact lenses, there are now RFU approved goggles which can be used, but contact lenses are still the safest and best option for players of all ability levels.
If you know a player who does not abide by these basic injury prevention rules, then why not drop a hint that they should, before the worst happens and they get stretchered off the pitch
Technique is Everything
Something that often gets ignored or forgotten in rugby circles is that good technique is what will ultimately prevent injuries in the long term. This can relate to how best to carry out a tackle, go up for a ball in the lineout, or how to bind correctly in the scrum. It is for this reason that practice is about so much more than just fitness and strength, as a team with solid technique will always fare better at staving off pesky injuries than those who spend all their time in the weights room.
Invest in Yoga and Pilates
Once upon a time, rugby players were giant lumps of muscle who were about as inflexible as athletes could possibly be. All that has now changed in the modern game, as club coaching teams have realised that a squad that remains supple also tends to pick up less injuries. This goes for players from all levels of the sport, with more and more people heading out to get themselves a yoga mat and perhaps even some bands designed for stretching out those hamstrings and calves.
