Description of Equipments in RUGBY

Shirt and shorts

Rugby shirts need to be able to take plenty of tugging and pulling. They also need to be lightweight, comfortable and strong—all at the same time. Modern shirts use new lightweight water-resistant, synthetic fibers. The tight forwards wear shirts that have panels for their team-mates to grab onto.

The back of a jersey will usually have the player's position number and sometimes their surname printed above it. The team logo traditionally will be placed on one side of the upper chest. Sponsor logos and club competition logo may also be included in the design. Most rugby teams usually will have two jersey designs, the alternative jersey (traditionally) worn by the home team when the visiting teams jersey clashes. More modern shirts, uncommon outside the highest levels of the game, are now skin-tight. They are designed to remove sweat and heat more effectively and be more difficult for an opponent to grab.

Rugby shorts are traditionally made from cotton, designed to take the strains of rugby union. Some second row forwards now use special line-out shorts which have reinforced stitching to help them to get lifted in the line-out (although most competent jumpers will insist on being lifted by the thighs, rather than the shorts, in order to obtain a higher lift).

Boots

Traditionally, rugby boots were of a high cut above the ankle. Over the years, such boots have become less common, although many players still wear mid-cut boots, just below the ankle. Additional ankle support was seen as appropriate given the nature of the game, particularly the stresses of forward play, and the amount of physical contact involved. Higher cut boots also provided some protection against knocks.

Modern boots are now much more similarly styled to soccer boots, with a low cut offering minimal ankle support but maximum flexibility with minimum weight.

It is essential for safety considerations, particularly in the scrum, that forwards wear boots with studs. The studs may be metal (aluminium) or plastic and must conform to Regulation 12 of the IRB. This regulation dictates the permissible dimensions of the studs and also defines a standard for the hardness of the material. Backs would be advised on most ground types to wear boots with some form of stud, to ensure adequate grip when changing direction.

Referees are required to check all players' studs before a game and ensure that the studs conform to the Laws and have no sharp edges. Any studs that are worn down so that the steel fixing is showing must be changed before the player is allowed to join in the game. Similarly, any sharp edges must be filed off before the player may join in. The intent of the standard and these pre-match checks is to eliminate the potential for a stud to cause a cut if it comes into contact with a player's skin.

Generally there are two types of stud pattern worn: the 8 stud or the 6 stud. The 8 stud is most often worn by the tight forwards (props, hooker and locks) to provide them with extra grip for scrummaging and mauling. The 6 stud is worn by backs as it allows for more agility and quicker movement around the field. Plastic "blade" studs, common in soccer, are an increasingly frequent choice among backs.

Body protection

Shoulder padding and protective vests are now becoming more commonly worn by players. The extent of the padding is limited by Regulation 12 of the International Rugby Board. This specifies that:

Shoulder padding will cover the shoulder and collar bone only and extend from the neck to a maximum of 2 cm down the upper arm.

The padding is intended to give some protection to the bony prominences of the shoulder and clavicle. Padding on the chest and biceps are expressly forbidden (although permitted in Rugby League). All padded vests for use in rugby union must carry an IRB approval logo.

Women players may also wear chest pads, also of soft, thin material. This is typically worn as part of a shoulder pad vest.

Players may use fingerless gloves (also known as "mitts") to better grip the ball. Shin guards may also be worn under the socks, but only made of non-rigid fabric. Hard plastic or metal are prohibited in rugby kit. Any protective equipment that may cause injury to another player is prohibited. No form of metal is allowed in any rugby kit, except for studs on boots. Spectacles are prohibited for play; players may alternatively wear contact lenses.[1].

Headgear

Traditionally in rugby union, the only form of headgear that was worn was the "scrum cap". This was intended simply to protect the ears of a player who is engaged in the scrum. This aimed to prevent swollen ears, which, if left untreated, led to the condition commonly known as cauliflower ears. The traditional scrum cap was constructed of a thin cloth helmet with padding over the ears, held in place by a strap. Buckles are not permitted. Often players will opt for a thin strip of foam or cloth and electrical tape wrapped around the ears like a head band.

Since the early 1990s, other players have taken to wearing padded headgear. This is intended to protect from cuts and head injuries that can occur from incidental contact in tackles or at rucks. The headgear is strictly defined by Regulation 12 of the IRB as being made of soft, thin materials. Solid materials, such as plastics, are expressly forbidden. Regulation 12[2] also gives details regarding the testing standards for this headgear. All headgear to be worn in rugby union must carry an IRB approval logo. Whilst they may prevent some cuts and abrasions, such headgear has not been shown to reduce concussive injury. Additionally lightly padded headgear such as a scrum cap greatly reduces the pain that occurs when players knock heads.

Mouthguard

An essential part of the safety equipment needed for rugby is the mouthguard. It protects the teeth, gums and prevents a player from biting their tongue. It can reduce both damage around the jaw and the chances of concussion.

The best mouthguards are made by a dentist. A mould of the mouth is first taken and then the mouthguard is cast around this mould, providing a tight fit in the mouth and around the teeth. Unmoulded rubber mouthguards, which one can mould in hot water, are also available.

Rugby: History and Equipments

Rugby football, often just "rugby", may refer to a number of sports descended from a common form of football developed at Rugby School in England, United Kingdom. Rugby league, rugby union, American football and Canadian football are modern sports that originated from rugby football. Rugby league and rugby union are the only two sports referred to as "rugby" today.

Rugby descends from an 18th century Cornish or Welsh sport known as "hurling"in which a ball was thrown up and the players acting either as individuals or as teams attempted to carry it to a goal. The goal could be set as far as several miles away thereby creating the opportunity for large-scale brawls in intervening villages. In Welsh the sport is called cnapan or "criapan". The old Irish predecessor of the sport may be caid, not to be confused with Gaelic "hurling" or "hockey" which has the difference that the ball was hit with a stick rather than carried. Rugby Football is commonly known as "rugby" and as "rugger".