You’ll see the best scrum-halves in the world darting over to a breakdown near the touchline, talk to their half-back partner, quickly make a calculation before clipping over a box-kick.…
Fitness
Nutrition: Plan your intake of carbohydrates
The world of sport will have its eyes firmly fixed on the Rugby World Cup in the upcoming months. Teams are taking it to the next level regarding sport science…
How to train like a professional rugby player – with Wattbike
A rugby player’s training routine is often perceived as being the toughest of any sport – gruelling, physical and at a high intensity. But what really happens behind closed doors?…
10 foods all rugby players should be eating during pre-season training
THE END of summer is synonymous with the conclusion of pre-season training. It’s the time of year when clubs can reflect on all the hard work that has been done;…
Rugby World fitness: Boost lineouts like Ireland’s lifters
Some team’s lineouts go off like clockwork, with star forwards fitting into the right space at the right time, withe the calls perfectly understood. You see Ireland doing this brilliantly,…
Welcome to Hell: Pre-season stories from the 2014-15 season
Tyres are flipped, weights are hoisted, pools are emptied and mountains are conquered. Before a ball is kicked in competition, pro players endure some of the most punishing fitness drills…
Rugby World fitness: maul like an England forward
There are a few sights that you only get in rugby – the lineout, the scrum and the maul. Now the maul can be held up as the refuge of…

Speed kills: the three keys to developing blistering rugby speed
If you remember one thing about this article make it this: speed is the most important physical quality you need to succeed in rugby. Strength may get all the accolades…
The arduous rehab getting Ben Foden ready for the World Cup
If Ben Foden is fit in time for the Rugby World Cup, and selected, it won’t so much be a miracle as the blessed result of some tortuous rehabilitation for…