Characteristics Of A Rugby Player

1124 Words5 Pages

Rugby is a dynamic, fast-paced game in which quick decision making is crucial to a team’s success. Each rugby team consists of 15 players, with 8 of them being forwards. Forwards are typically larger, heavier players and it’s their job to take command of the game. One element in a rugby game is the scrum, in which the 8 forwards will be a part of. A powerful scrum is one of the most important traits a team can have. With a powerful scrum, the forwards can overpower the other team’s forward pack, asserting dominance in every aspect of the game. To achieve a great scrum, body position of each forward is very important, as being in a strong position is crucial in maintaining stability and tightness in the scrum. In this report, I will be …show more content…

This frictional force produced by the player’s cleats should be relatively the same for any angle, as the spikes of the cleats should have the same surface area planted into the ground at all times. In addition, there will be the weight of the player acting at their center of mass, and the force being produced at the shoulders. At the shoulder’s contact point, there will also be a normal force. In solving these free body …show more content…

When thinking about this, we also have to take stability into account. While stability can’t be calculated, we know that optimum stability is anywhere between 90 and 120 degrees, depending on the player preferences. After solving this free body diagram, it can be stated that as the angle grows larger, the amount of power produced gets larger. This happens because of the player’s center of mass moving further forward and more weight is pressing against the opposition. According to Rugby Coach Weekly we also have to take into account the which part of the scrum the player is in. The front row players are needed to stabilize the scrum and normally not as stretched out as the rest of the forwards, so the best angle for them might be the 90 degrees. For the second rowers, producing maximum power is their one job, so a larger angle between their calves and knees might be the best for them. Back row players have the easiest job in the scrum, as they hang off of the edges and have much more leg room to be able to reposition themselves. If they feel they aren’t stable enough, they can quickly switch up their leg

More about Characteristics Of A Rugby Player

Open Document