A few days have now gone in this the 7th Rugby World Cup, and I know more than a few of us are thinking “I could do that!” So what does it take to be a Professional rugby player competing at the highest level? Lets examine the physical attributes needed to compete as this level.
Rugby Union is a sport requiring agility, speed, strength and stamina as well as a bit of skill. Not for the faint hearted, it requires all of these physical attributes, as well as the ability to concentrate and mentally process every changing situation as they happen throughout the whole game. We have all seen teams unable to ‘see out games’ or lead against stronger sides, yet falter in the last 10 to 15 mins. England vs Argentina being one example. This can be attributed to both physical and mental fitness.
Physical fitness and conditioning in team sports must be individualised. All positions require differing characteristics and differing physical attributes, this is no more evident than in rugby. To condition the whole team equally the same would be detrimental to the squad.
The following are the specific attributes that each Springbok requires for his position (courtesy of the SARFU). See how you match up:
| POSITION | Body Fat (%) | Vertical Jump (mm) | 10m Sprint(secs) | 40m Sprint(secs) | Bleep test(level) |
| Inside backs | < 9 | 65 | 1.65 | 5.25 | 13.5 |
| Outside backs | < 9 | 68 | 1.68 | 5.10 | 13.5 |
| Loose Forwards | <10 | 62 | 1.72 | 5.30 | 13.0 |
| Lock Forwards | <12 | 65 | 1.75 | 5.50 | 12.5 |
| Hookers | <11 | 60 | 1.75 | 5.50 | 13.0 |
| Prop Forwards | <12 | 55 | 1.80 | 5.65 | 11.5 |
| POSITION | Bench Press(kg/kg.bw) | Squat(kg/kg.bw) | 3km run(min/sec) | Repeated Sprints (m) |
| Inside backs | 1.3 | 1.3 | 11.15 | 780 |
| Outside backs | 1.3 | 1.6 | 11.15 | 780 |
| Loose Forwards | 1.5 | 1.6 | 11.45 | 760 |
| Lock Forwards | 1.5 | 1.6 | 12.15 | 750 |
| Hookers | 1.5 | 1.8 | 12.00 | 750 |
| Prop Forwards | 1.5 | 1.8 | 12.45 | 720 |
Thanks for the share!
Nancy.R
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