Information on Rugby Warmups

A rugby player is required to jog, sprint, hit other players and drive the legs in close physical combat. This puts an emphasis on a thorough warm-up to avoid injury and prepare a player to perform optimally. Rugby warm-ups should include movement, a range of stretching as well as rugby-specific drills.

  1. Movement

    • Rugby warm-ups should begin with some jogging and sprinting. The movement increases blood flow to muscles.

    Muscles to Prepare

    • Stretching is important both for optimal range of motion as well as injury prevention. Hamstrings and sprinting muscles as well as shoulder and upper body muscles should be used in game preparation.

    Static and Dynamic Stretching

    • Static stretching is lengthening the muscles while holding still, such as touching your toes. Dynamic stretching is movement that has the purpose of stretching muscles.

    Skill-Specific drills

    • Rugby-specific warm-up drills that involve ball handling and light contact should be used. A coach should be wary of wearing his players out with grueling pregame preparation.

    Game Preparation

    • A rugby team should find a mix in pregame of familiarity and some variance to keep a mental freshness immediately before a game.