Four- to six-week dedicated spells will help you stay lean up top, writes Darren Grewcock Bench Press The daddy of upper-body exercises, this is a good test of where you’re…
Fitness
How to train hard without too much strain on your body
Cardio combinations and circuits have a minimal impact on the body, says Darren Grewcock Cross-trainer & Press-ups Combining sets of 30-second reps on the cross-trainer – sprint-steady-sprint-steady – with press-ups…
Having asthma as a player won’t hold you back
Having asthma doesn’t mean you can’t be as fit as the next athlete. Ireland team doctor Eanna Falvey gives you the low-down Baseline asthma can be related to an allergy…
Join England and use Wrestling to improve your skills
England have introduced a new training method during pre-season in a bid to get in tip-top condition for the World Cup, writes Bea Asprey. The 45-man squad has been taking…
Hydration is key to success
Hydration is important for all rugby players and one of the key things to remember is that we might be dehydrated and not even know it, writes Dr Stavros Kavouras…
Strength and Conditioning of Youth Rugby Players: Part II
It was stated in Part I Emphasis on Technique, when working with youth rugby players there should be a real focus on developing multiple fitness components and athletic abilities. Training…
Strength and Conditioning of Young Players: Part I – Technique
When working with young rugby players it should be the aim of the coach to develop all round movement literacy. Young players will benefit from a strength and conditioning program…
Off season strength training – the 3 to 5 rule
The off season is the best time to focus on building strength as the stress of collisions and running in games and training is removed. Strength is one of the…
How to use boxing in your rugby training
Boxing is a fantastic conditioning tool, writes Roy Headey, the RFU’s Head of Sports Science. It’s physically demanding but because guys love doing it they don’t realise just how hard…
Tom May’s Top Fitness Tip
On a trip to Toulon, we decided to pick the brains of some of the French team’s star names on ways that you could improve your game. We asked Tom…