Want to learn how to play rugby better, compete with the best rugby players, or find out more about rugby training and coaching rugby? In rugby, fitness is important. These articles will help you get stronger, faster and avoid rugby injuries and improve your rugby skills… To browse our library of free sports training articles, browse using the categories on the left or use the search box.
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Rugby coaching and rugby training
Articles
We'll pay you to ask questions
Got a question about sport? We'll pay you to ask it, and pay more to answer others' questions!
Peak Performance Launches Olympics 2008 Blog
Telling Non-Olympians how to do it too!
Strength Training Program Part 1: Competition Preparation
The best Weight Training Exercises to prepare for competition
Rugby Training: Secrets of the Rugby World Cup Players
Scotland's Rugby Fitness Coach shares his rugby training tips
Quercetin vs Beta-Alanine and their Affect on Body Fat Loss
Can body fat loss and lean muscle gain be targetted with nutritional supplements?
Fitness Training for Rugby Union
Rugby conditioning: the fitness standards rugby players and coaches should be aiming for
Weight Training Routines for Rugby Players
A rugby tackle requires explosive power – here are some strength training tips on how to get it
Women's Rugby: Resistance training for rugby
A women's rugby trainer divulges her rugby conditioning secrets from the World Cup
Preventing Injury: Risk factors for rugby players
Previous rugby injuries predict in-season problems for rugby players
Sports psychology: Post-game recovery for rugby players
Is exercise better than rest for psychological recovery after a game of rugby?
Increase Vertical Leap and Improve Jumping Ability with Plyometrics
Plyometric Exercises to Make You Jump Higher and Further
Sport Books: Football, Rugby, and more
Six of the best sports books of 2005
The Importance of Proprioceptive Training
Proprioception – taking a balanced approach to sport
Half-time nutrition – what’s best for maximising fulltime performance?
Half-Time Training for Team Sports
Half Time Strategy - Temperature
Coping With The Effects of Temperature on The Pitch
Powerful, Accurate and Injury Free Kicking - A Mental Guide
Kicking Training for Rugby and Football
Core strengthening to keep your spine in good shape
Skills Based Training: Female Games Players
Skills Based Training as an Alternative to Traditional Strength Training
Does glucosamine really work?
Can Athletes Dance Their Way to Agility?
Dance Training for Agility, Speed and Power
Weight Training Systems : Weight train your hormones
Biopsychosocial Pain : Pain and brain - the biopsychosocial method of chronic injury rehabilitation
strength training for children
Strength Training For Children : Why young athletes should be encouraged to work out with weights
Metabolic Rate : The metabolic impact of exercise - or how your body works out while you put your feet up
Building rotational power: all you need to know about getting in shape to perform zippy turns on the hoof
Underperformance Syndrome - how youth rugby coaches are using psychology to raise their players' game
The majestic self-confidence of Jonny Wilkinson - or how expectations can make or break your performance
speed agility quickness training | SAQ training
Speed agility quickness - SAQ training
sport specific weight training
Sport specific weight training
training for football and rugby
Football and rugby teams pre-season training
Dietary Supplements
Shoulder Instability: Should you consider shrinking your shoulder?
Competition & Emotional Control
Competition & Emotional Control
Muscle Imbalance: Why detecting muscle imbalance is an essential part of an injury-prevention strategy
Pity the poor referee - he gets all of the stress and none of the lolly
Squat exercise
Speed Training: Talking turkey: why hill work helps athletes in football, rugby, basketball, cricket - and even running
British sports coaches | Australian sports coaches
Why blinkered British coaches have a lot to learn from Aussie champions
Infection And Sport: Which infections are spread during sports activities?
Partial squats: an outstanding exercise for improving your strength, stability and efficiency
Partial squats: an outstanding exercise for improving your strength, stability and efficiency
Vision In Sport: A guide to improving performance by training the eyes.
muscle imbalance | injury prevention
Why detecting muscle imbalance is an essential part of an injury-prevention strategy
Lactate Level Readers and Fitness Assessment
Power Training: How contrast power training maximises performance
Flexibility and Stretching: Two sports physiotherapists show why flexibility is so important, and explain the science behind it
Squat research review
Trigger points - a warning sign of serious injury
Tigger Points: what they are, how they happen and what to do about them
Running Economy 2: How to make headway on improving running efficiency: can freeloading African women provide some important clues?
Circuit Training: These exercises are an excellent way to build strength and stamina simultaneously.
Circuit training
Shin Splints Treatment: How to strengthen the lower parts of your legs, and prevent (or repair) shin splints problems
Strength training exercises for knee injuries
Strength training exercises for knee injuries
Conditioning: Next to cross-country skiing, running is the best type of fitness training for all sports.
warming up | substitute players
Warming up, substitute players & sitting on the bench
The case of the ex-rugby player with a mysterious headache
Training Techniques: Speed Work
Training Techniques: Speed Work
Track And Field Workouts: Phasing the year properly means allowing your athletes a chance to be serviced, oiled and refitted.
psychometric testing | sports training
Psychometric testing: How the Giants kicked tradition into touch with psychometric testing
Strength training program
Fitness For Football: Endurance training boosts performance in the field
Reading The Game: While lesser mortals grind out victories with their patient shots, eliminating risks and playing the percentages, the truly gifted seem to conjure with time. They bring an unhurried genius to their game that allows them to play shots with an audacity that sometimes surprises even them.
Speed Training: How the Frappier super treadmill helps athletes run faster
Groin Pain Causes and treatments
Groin Pain Causes and Treatments - Case study: a rugby-union player with groin pain
Fitness program - How to design a sports-specific fitness program
Here's a new running-based test of anaerobic performance for which you need only a stopwatch and a calculator.
Do wrist guards really protect the wrist and forearm?
Caffeine proves less of a help to team sports sprinters
boys physical self-perception | body image
Boys physical self-perception - When Boys Care More than Girls About their Body Image
Mental Fitness: When you can manage your emotions, you can perform at your best
squatting exercises | knee injuries | spine injuries
How safe is squatting? Does it injure the knees or even the spine? Here's an exhaustive review of the research
Pity the poor referee - he gets all of the stress and none of the lolly
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention exercises, rehabilitation and training techniques
These four exercises can help prevent your ACLs blowing up - which is especially good news for female athletes.
Pre season training for soccer and rugby
Conference Report: How football and rugby teams should train before the season begins.
mental strength | mental fitness | mental toughness
Mental strength - When you can manage your emotions, you can perform at your best
Muscle building: Squats, leg press or knee extensions - which exercise is best for the quads?
curls, crunches, twists, raises, pushes and chops | exercises
You know curls and crunches, but what about twists, raises, pushes and chops?
Training Dietary Regimes: You can lead a footballer to a proper diet, but can you make him eat it?
Warming Up: Just how hot should your warm-up be?
Shin splints: These exercises will help to strengthen your lower legs, and prevent or repair shin splint problems
Weight Training
Pressure Training Sessions: How to keep your skills even when all about you are losing theirs.
bilateral co-ordination | training
Bilateral Co-ordination: Why dexterity alone just will not do: some lessons from a young piano player
Resistance Training: Resistance Training: The message has got through to adults: should they keep it to themselves or pass it down to the juniors?
triathlon training schedule | cross training
It can stop you getting injured and, who knows, might even help you to win
Foot Structure & Injury Rates
rugby league training | strength | power
Rugby League Training - Strength And Power: Professional Rugby League is a demanding sport, combining raw aggression and subtle playing skill in equal measure.
How to design a sports-specific fitness programme
Nose strips | Breathe Right External Nasal Dilator,
Here's the scientific verdict on those nose strips - the damned things don't work
shoulder excercises | shoulder injury prevention
Shoulder excercises and shoulder injury prevention
prehabilitation exercises | strength exercises | conditioning exercises
Prehabilitation exercises: these prehabilitation exercises will help reduce injury risk
Rugby training: how rugby training should reflect the varying energy demands of players field positions
overtraining | overtraining injuries
Overtraining injuries avoidance: How to readjust your training programme so it allows two days' rest per week
upper body exercise | upper body strength | straight arm pullover
Upper body exercise: The straight arm pullover
Questions
Toxic benzene in drinks/gels/bars !!??
Hey, remember read the labels in all what you eat and drink: Ascorbic acid + Benzoate = benzene (toxic).
How do i overcome the psychological aspects of repetitive injury??
I played rugby to quite a high level in the Welsh Premiership but over the past two seasons have incurred a mini nightmare, having broken my right leg in May 2006.
Any fast and effective ways to lose bodyfat?
I'm not afraid to work hard guys, all round I am pretty fit & quick but i would like to drop some bodyfat. Thank's to those who replied to my previous question they all helped me a lot. Cheers!
i am a rugby coach and would be grateful if anyone could direct me to some good free Rugby coaching videos
what are the best exercises to get kids aged 9-12 fit and fast?
Ideally i would like these exercises to be conducted without equipment as it is for a team sport.
I am 47 years old, & have recently started to train again, for weight loss & general good health. I am interested in an easy Circuit that I can do at home.
How can I improve my punching speed for boxing?
I have a powerful righthand but my left arm is by comparison very slow and weak, so I need training to make it faster.There is enough strength in my right arm to plant a knock-out blow.So I just need
How can I build a massive chest, something different please?
I've been told many different ways to build a big chest but it just doesn't seem to be working, I have a big ribcage, that's about the only thing that makes my chest look a bit bigger.
Converting from strength, into power to weight ratio for rugby League
I have taken on a job as strength and conditioning coach for a team of Rugby League players and their speed & strength requirements are similar to NFL footballers.
I having been playing rugby for a few years and have been playing on the wing as i am quite fast, recently my coach has asked me to try out playing fullback because of my pace and effectiveness it wil
What do you think of the Peak Performance Premium area? (!)
As the main provider of information in this area, I'd like to find out what you think about the videos and the articles in particular.
Where I find the section on Recovery sessions?
Recovery sessions after contact sport with a 4 or 7 day turn around
Hi im currently at university doing an assignment looking at creating a 12 week pre season rugby programme for a university athlete.
I injured my shoulder 10 weeks ago...more than a strain?
I injured my shoulder 10 weeks ago, reaching backward to pull open a stuck door. I didn't go to the doctor right away, because it seemed just sore/strained.
What does "Whey Protein" do for you?
I know people who out it in fruit smoothies or energy drinks, but wat is it and what does it do?
How do I increase my speed generally around the rugby pitch?
I play at flanker and already have lots of stamina but I could do with more pace any training suggestions?
Effect of gender stereotypes on sporting goals/achievements?
any thoughts towards this topic? do you know of any articles i can read up on? thanks so much for your time
What muscles are used to push back for increasing running speed?
The quadriceps muscles contract hard across the front of the knee to pull the lower leg forward.
Hi, Two things: 1st) I damaged my knee a year back and now want to start playing rugby next season. It's not an internal injury but I think the muscles in front of the knee cap (is this possible??).
Does landing on your toes add to speed and make the landing softer?
Coaches teach that landing on the toes add speed and make the landing softer.
Does tilting your upper body forward add to your running speed?
Coaches teach that tilting the upper body forward adds speed. The tilt is described two ways. 1. Bending at the hip. 2. Slanted in a straight line head to toe.
Im 13 Years old and im just started playing rugby a few months back.
As a teenager would they affect your hormones?
How do I improve my fitness fast?
I need to improve my fitness asap......
What rugby drills would you recommend for an under 11 age group?
i am coaching an under 11 side this year and it's my 1st year coaching
Im 13 As Some of you May Already Know. I do rugby mostly so i was wondering how do i get my chest muscles (and Possible My Stomach Muscles) As what they should look like in magazines and so what.
I have dificulty shaping the lower part of my stomach. What exercise can I do to reach that area.
How do you tell if you have shin splints. I have a pain in my left leg above my ankle, but I don't know what it is.
I am 17 years old and play rugby union. My position is full back or wing. Speed is very important as you are aware and i must get faster in order to progress as a player.
Looking for brief information on types of training.
Components of fitness. Advantages and disadvantages of Fartlek,Interval,Continuous,Weight Training, Flexibility Training?
Are the eas myplex drinks good?
is eas myoplex good for your body does it have any side effects any one tried it yet?
If i Drink Skimmed milk every day for a month and not drink anything else or eat anything else cept from veg and fruit.. will that be a healthy lifestyle?
Whats everyones views on the use of ice baths?
Does anyone here use them regularly? If so how long for?
Does tilting your upper body forward add to your running speed
I can tilt my upper body forward and stand still or run backward.
Im a 13 boy and im 13st and 5"7. Is there A way to lose weight without dieting?
Hi. I am looking for examples of a dynamic warm?
My sport is Gaelic football, a field game played in Ireland and involves passing by foot and hand.
What are the most effective sprinting exercises/drills for beginners?
What are the most effective sprinting exercises/drills for beginners?
How to treat an U13 ACL injury until they are prepared to operate?
I have a young player who is keen as mustard but has an ACL injury (partly torn).The specialists will not operate until he has finished growing.
Is there a program out there for a player to develop speed?
I'm 6-4 220 pounds but i run a 5.6 in the 40 yard dash is there someone who can tell me what i can do to get this number down i work really hard at it but i'm just not seeing any results if anyone ca
uses the the entire lower body, to what extent does it work the hamstrings and calves?
Diets/WorkOuts/any help for rugby?
I'm playing for a rugby team that is touring in Ireland this up and coming spring.
Should I weight train to lose weight?
I run, swim and cycle (doing at least one or a combination of the three each day for at least 1 hour per day). I also do weight training 1-2 times per week.
How do you condition fast twitch fibres?
I hear that is what makes you faster. This is because I am looking to get a faster time in my 100m and 200m
What is the ideal body of a rower?
Height? Weight? What do olympic rowers look like? And what biological advantages do most have through genetics
I am a 39 year old 800m / 1500m runner. I took up running in my early 30`s and have settled on running middle distance for the Veterans (Masters) team for my local club.
Any Good Proprioceptive exercises?
Hiya. Just wondering if anyone has any good suggestions of proprioception exercises for the lower limb? I feel I sometimes struugle to come up with alot outwith using a wobble board.
Do you need supplements/creatine to increase your speed by 1 or 2sec?
Im trying to run 11.00 flat or less this year and currently running 12 seconds for athletics 100m sprint.PLEASE HELP PLEASE!!!
Has anyone implemented steps to address the Relative Age Effect?
The relative age effect is a bias in junior selection and talent ID processes that consistently favours children born in the earlier part of the year relative to the eligibility date for that age-base
I am having problems with feet, lower legs and knees... i think its down to my trainers as they are over a year old and look used.
I've always been told that hard training is good training, but during the season I've always been really tired after school, whats my problem?
I play a sport called gaelic, I need power speed an agility?
I am quicker than average 100m in 12.75secs but i like 2 lower this by 1 sec was wondering if any1 has any tips
Sprinting coach wanted in the Huddersfield area
My son plays rugby but needs to improve his sprinting speed as this is letting a good player down. We believe that with some one to one sprint training will lift his game massively.
What's the best way to get peak fitness for rugby - quickly?
I played rugby to a high level before breaking my jaw. I then took two years out the game and ran a couple of marathons.
Do you have a question for our community?
PP Online has over 10,000 registered users, all of them keen sportsmen and women, including many coaches, personal trainers and sports scientists.
I have good core strength and would like to challenge myself with some
I am a rugby coach with a team of player and I want to find a way to analyse their strength and weaknesses. What tests do you recommend?
Blogs
I just haven’t had the time to write like before so I wanted to create a solid article which tackles a wide range of issues.
Does Rugby Matter in the Global Sporting Context?
I recently watched the Rugby sevens World Series (or something) on the telly (well, I say that, but really it was just on in the background) and wondering what people out there in the world (i.e.
5 Ways to Increase Testosterone Naturally
Every personal trainer should seek to educate themselves on ways to improve the hormonal profiles of their personal training clients.
Have shoulder pains? You came to the right place.
I have been doing exercises for my abs but they are just now showing what can I do? I even have little fat.
I started training two months ago and I have really noticed a boost in my fitness,all you need is time and dedication.
“The 7 Deadly Sins of Lifting” this is another installment from A. Jay of a series of motivational articles.
Mindtree NLP in Sports Seminar Mindtree would like to invite you to attend our NLP in Sports seminar to find out how we can assist your players to achieve their maximum potential.
Most people would agree the hardest muscle to get into shape is the one 'between the ears.'
next NLP Sports Practitioner Course that we run here at Mindtree Ltd.
How to warm up before training and event
TRAINING ADVICE Warm ups Warming up prior to exercise, helps lower your risk of injuries and the aches and pains that come with exercise.
Drug testing what's out there a physiotherapists view point
Testing Athletes for Drug Use Why do some “athletes” try to enhance their performances on the track and field by taking drugs?
Here is the first and not the last instalment of Nick Mitchell’s long awaited All Strength Q&A.
Are you making these mistakes as an Athlete?
Don’t get me wrong nobody’s perfect, especially me, many of these ideas came from my “Stupidity”, a rollercoaster of discovery, injuries and re-injury, does that sound about right?
Sports Medicine Foot and Ankle Rehabilitation
This article was a long time coming. After writing and then scraping and re-writing it is a good way to describe this.
INTRODUCTION TO SHIN SPLINTS
Core training The martial artist should train in resistance from a multi-directional i.e. all angles, multi-positional i.e. prone, upright, horizontal, bent-over, with multi-exercises.
The Insider’s Secrets to a Flat Stomach
Hey regular blog readers myself and Nick sat down and and had a conversation, long story short this article was born.
Rotational Carbohydrates "RO-CHO" ?
Rotational Carbohydrates "RO-CHO" Article by Steve Blades. It is all about carbohydrate rotation for ultimate performance.
Another great read by Steve Blades aka "Marmite". If you are not making gains in the gym or the track this will change everything completely.
You are a Beginner, READ THIS!
A great,long article about everything on general bodybuilding ,training, nutrition and supplementation as a beginner.
A great new update to hit Rawgrip.com, a great article for all of the new found health freaks this year.
Squat Rx Video Creator Interview
If you are a serious lifter you must have heard of the “Squat Rx” video series all over the net. The Videos are available on YouTube.
How Focused Are You at the Gym?
Sean discusses The Top 10 Reasons why you are slacking in the Gym and How to prevent this. He exposes some great Tips how to make your training sessions more productive for better end results.
Finally an article created for all you serious weight shifters. C Pikey discuses the truth about A massive Bench Press and gives some tips How To Improve your Weak Bench.
Glycemic Index in Athletes and Weight management
An article about the glycemic index of carbohydrates pertains directly to athletes and their performance.
A new article by Michael Nystrom discussing the protein intake amounts in athletes. Athlete Protein intake article
Introduction to Tai Chi Training
This article is merely a brief and light hearted introduction to Tai Chi. My next article will focus upon how the key principles of Tai Chi can be used to develop optimum sports performance.
America's growing health crisis.
A good article about fish oils and the recommended intake in an athlete, a great read. Fish oil article Or
I finally finished a nutrition article which will help any athlete to peak performance. It covers everything from protein intake for an athlete and how to loose some extra pounds.
A great plyometric article i have read. The best thing about it is free and it gives no BS information about the subject.
Training Methods for the Development of Power
The other day I came across a presentation a friend and I did at university. Thought I'd share it with you all.
It's a very exciting day for us today, because we've had our first major relaunch in 7 years.
When we set up the new PP Online site, one of our biggest aims was to create a place where anyone with a passion for sport could share their opinions and experiences.
Resistance Training for Speed Development
Let’s get straight to the point. Acceleration and top speed running are different for several reasons. One such difference is technique.
Who drinks red bull or other caffeine beverages before they compete?
Is this the fastest man in Rugby Union?
Bryan Habana is the winger for the South African national rugby team. In the current standings, after one game, he’s the top try scorer in the rugby world cup with four tries.
Speed Training for Young Athletes Part 2
The last entry introduced the topic of sensitive periods for speed development. Today I want to talk about when this period occurs and how to identify sensitive periods.
Speed Training for Young Athletes Part 1
Any training programme designed for young athletes should take into account speed development.
How to Win the Rugby World Cup
Following on from England’s record 62 -5 win against Wales on Saturday I asked myself the broad question. What will win the world cup? Solid defence or Searing attack?
The ideal bench press grip width position
After reading all the advice, it gets a little confusing on where you should place your hands to bench the most. Still there is pretty slick way of finding out your individual spot on the bar.
Protein requirements for the strength athlete
Figures are regularly tossed out as to how much protein an athlete needs in their diet.
Steroids are banned, dangerous drugs. DON’T TAKE THEM.
Strength athletes should all be aware that adequate protein in the diet is crucial for the development of stronger more powerful muscles. But how many know why this is true?
Can endurance training hinder strength development
The literature from scientific research indicates that some types of endurance training can indeed inhibit strength, power and speed development if performed simultaneously.
he athletes coming to my gym eat breakfast everyday. It’s almost a mandatory thing if they want to lift heavy for the entire fifty minutes.
Plantar fascia: two ankle sprains that turned into two plantar fascia ruptures with no obvious cause
The casualties
Rugby recovery: Exercise and recovery in rugby players
The addition of low intensity exercise to the rest period after a rugby match does not hinder physiological recovery and may significantly enhance psychological recovery, according to a A useful agility drill to develop acceleration, deceleration and rapid changes in direction whilst sprinting.Videos
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Core Stability Training - Save 33%
**NEW** Running Injuries - Save 33%
Training for Distance Running - Save 33%
Strength Training for Swimmers - Save 33%
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Shoulder Injuries – Prevention and Treatment - Save 33%
Training for Sprinting - Save 33%
Training for Speed, Power and Strength - Save 33%
Training for Cyclists - Save 33%
Training for Rowing - Save 33%
Football Performance - Save 33%
Football Performance II - Save 33%
Achilles Tendinitis - Prevention and Treatment - Save 33%
Training for Triathlon - Save 33%
Knee Pain - Prevention and Treatment - Save 33%
Nutritional Supplements - Save 33%
Resistance Training - Save 33%
World Sports Science Training Workbook - Save 33%
Coaching Young Athletes - Save 33%
Sports Psychology - the will to win - Save 33%
Speed Training for all Sports - Save 33%
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