Guide to Rugby Equipment Needed to Play the Game

Rugby is one of the most physically demanding and, at times, dangerous sports to play in the world. Because of this rugby equipment is important, not only for performance but also for a player's safety.

The first piece of rugby equipment that a player needs, and often the most expensive, is a good pair of rugby boots. These may also be called cleats and are somewhat similar to American football cleats, although they have metal spikes instead of plastic ones. Players who play a back position will generally wear lighter cleats with less protection so as to allow the player to run faster. Players who play a forward position, wear sturdier boots with metal plated toes in order to protect the feet from being stepped on when participating in scrums and rucks.

The next piece of rugby equipment that a player needs would obviously be the uniform that they wear. Rugby jerseys and shorts are made of a special material that is resistant to tearing, as the opposing team, and even members of a player's own team, are frequently pulling on a player's jersey. You can specially order jerseys and shorts online or find them at a local rugby shop or even a soccer store. Usually, players do not wear their team jersey during practice, so as to keep them in top condition for their matches. Often it is a good idea to have a few extra jerseys, in case one is too dirty or becomes ripped.

Technically, this is all equipment that is required to play rugby, however, nearly all players use additional safety equipment of some sort. The most essential piece of safety equipment is the mouthpiece or mouth guard. This piece of rugby equipment is the same as that used in American football and can be bought at a sporting goods store and self fitted, or, for a higher price, can be fitted by a dentist or orthodontic professional. It is important to make sure that the mouth guard fits properly so that it will not fall out during the course of the game. Mouth guards help in preventing concussions in the case of a head impact.

While mouth guards are almost always required for official match play, additional pieces of safety equipment are often a good idea. A piece of rugby equipment that you sometimes will see players wearing is a head guard or head gear. While not nearly as protective as the helmets that American football players wear, this soft padded helmet fits over the player's entire head and does lessen the impact when the head hits another player or the ground. Like other pieces of rugby equipment, you can find these at online rugby stores or at your local shop. Lastly, some players choose to wear a cup that protects the player's crotch area in case he or she is accidentally kicked in the crotch area or hit by the rugby ball. Due to the intense, physical nature of the sport, this may be something that you want to look into, although many players choose not to wear cups as they can be uncomfortable. I advise that you look around a bit and consider spending a little extra money to get a lightweight, high-quality cup. This just might be the piece of rugby equipment that you are most glad you have if the wrong situation arises during a game.

Rugby can be a thrilling sport to play as well as watch. With just a little extra effort looking around online and at local stores you can usually find rugby equipment for a reasonable price that will last for your entire season of play and beyond.