Metal Cleats Vs. Rubber

Deep Winter and Wet

• If there's one thing about a wet winter, it produces rain and mud. For rugby players, this is the prime training time and game season in the year. As a result, steel cleats are a must. When slogging through a muddy field, the player needs a shoe that will dig in and gain traction despite the sloppy ground.

  For forward rugby positions that have to push in the scrum (the initial possession push) or gain possession of the rugby ball in mauls, rucks and tackles, the steel cleats allow the player to dig in or scrape the ball out as needed.

  For back positions involved in more running, the same type of cleat allows the runner to gain speed and still retain traction to twist and turn direction without slipping in the wet field grass.

Spring is a Mix

• In middle to late spring, players may begin to start switching out their heave steel cleats for rubber molded cleats. Much depends on the ground conditions. If the playing field is still sloppy from rains, no change is necessary. However, if the field begins to start drying, steel cleats will feel awkward, like walking on uneven cobblestone. Rubber cleats can provide the same traction benefits on drier ground.

Late Spring and Summer

• Rubber cleats are a must by the time the warm weather arrives. Playing fields have usually dried out completely with the ground being very hard. Steel cleats can be painful to wear on such fields, and many rugby players have now switched to the summer version of the sport, Sevens. This summer rugby version requires significant running as there are seven players on the field per team (standard rugby uses 15 players a side). Molded, rubber cleats become ideal, much like soccer shoes, and allow sprinting, running, quick turning and lightweight foot protection.

Safety

• Obviously, steel cleats pose much more of a risk than molded rubber cleats. As a result, unlike in rugby, many other field sports don't allow steel cleats for safety reasons. In soccer, for example, referees check players' cleats, specifically looking for illegal steel cleats.

  In rugby, though, players run the risk of being raked by opposing players while on the ground if they impede the ball. It's not uncommon to see a player who has been at the bottom of a tackle or ruck to get some steel cleat marks. Most players learn quickly not to stick around in these bad spots very long.

The Shoe Fits the Wearer

• New players can relax if they are worried that they don't have the right shoe at the moment. Whether using steel cleats or molded rubber, both will work well during winter and spring months with some level of moisture on the playing field. And, if you must have the right shoe, outfitters are available in most major towns and on the Internet, shipping shoes within a week as needed.

  When fitting, keep in mind that types of cleats fit differently. For instance, one size in a full rugby boot with steel cleats may, as the same size, seem big and loose in a low-ankle molded rubber cleat. The best approach is to fit the shoe before buying it. This will save your wallet some grief.