While the game of rugby prides itself on not needing fancy equipment, the game does require some protective rugby gear to prevent injuries. Although some equipment pricing may be quite high, cheap rugby gear usage may necessitate replacing the gear often and could cost more over an extended period of time. For female players, specialized womens rugby gear exists to meet the needs of these players. From New York to New Zealand rugby gear can be found in shops and from online distributors.

Some pieces of rugby gear are needed to simply play the game. First and foremost, a group of players needs to find a field with the correct goalposts. Secondly, a rugby ball is a necessity to be able to play the game. A rugby ball is oblong and generally has a rubber surface to help with players gripping the ball. As the ball is inflated with air, a valve will be present for inflation. Lastly, a kicking tee is needed and many models are available for purchase. In New Zealand rugby gear often sports the logo of the famous All Blacks team.

Various pieces of rugby gear are worn by players to provide extra protection. One such piece of equipment is a headguard. The headguards are usually constructed of leather or a synthetic material and protect a player’s head from injuries caused by collisions with the ground or other players. An effective headguard should have venting that allows airflow as well as an adjustable chin strap to fit the guard snugly onto a player’s head. As rugby is a high impact game, mouthguards should also be worn to avoid damage to a player’s teeth. These guards have a “U” shape and fit comfortably in a player’s mouth. Another protective piece of equipment is body protection shirts. These shirts include padding to lessen the impact of collisions. Better models will feature increased ventilation and lighter weights so performance is not affected. Womens rugby gear is roughly similar to that of men’s, but it is specifically designed to fit better for women and provide specialized support and protection.

A piece of equipment that is worn by players to improve performance is rugby gloves, or stik mits. These gloves are used for better control of the ball despite various weather conditions that may the ball slippery or difficult to handle. Most models have a wrist strap for optimum comfort. In addition, probably the most important piece of equipment a player will buy is a pair of rugby boots. These shoes are similar to soccer shoes in that they are designed for grass fields and contain replaceable studs to provide better support and mobility to a player. Solid models of rugby boots have comfortable leather uppers, a stable heel cup, and a light weight.

With the amount of gear a rugby player may choose to carry, travel bags have been created to help a player transport their equipment. These bags have specific pockets and storage area for all of the different gear that may need to be carried. Cheap rugby gear usage may seem like a good idea, but a player buying better equipment will be rewarded with better performance and a longer life for the protective rugby gear.