The Benefits of Playing Rugby

Rugby is played by millions of people worldwide. However, it is difficult to give an exact number as participation varies by region and level of competition.

According to World Rugby, the international governing body for rugby union, there were over 9.6 million registered rugby players worldwide as of 2021. This includes both men and women, at all levels of the sport from grassroots to professional.

The sport is most popular in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Argentina, where it is considered a major sport. Rugby is also gaining popularity in other regions such as Asia, North America, and South America.

Rugby is clearly a popular sport and given the benefits of rugby it is not surprising.. One of these is improved mental health. Like many sports, rugby can help improve mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, improving mood, and promoting social connection. So there are mental benefits of rugby. We will explore some of the social aspects of playing rugby later but first we turn to the physical benefits of playing rugby. 

The Physical Benefits of Rugby

There are many health benefits of rugby, including:

• Increased muscular strength: Rugby involves a lot of physical contact, tackling, and running, which can help develop muscular strength in the legs, arms, chest, and back.
• Improved endurance: Rugby requires players to have a high level of cardiovascular endurance to keep up with the pace of the game. Regular participation in rugby can improve endurance and reduce fatigue.
• Better agility and balance: Rugby requires players to be able to change direction quickly and maintain their balance while running and being tackled. This can help improve agility, coordination, and balance.
• Enhanced flexibility: Rugby involves a lot of stretching, twisting, and turning, which can help improve flexibility and reduce the risk of injury.
• Increased bone density: Rugby involves a lot of physical contact and impact, which can help increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
• Improved body composition: Rugby is a high-intensity sport that can help burn calories and reduce body fat. This can help improve body composition and reduce the risk of obesity and related health problems.
• Reduced risk of injury: Although rugby is a contact sport, proper training, conditioning, and technique can help reduce the risk of injury. Rugby players also tend to have stronger muscles, bones, and joints, which can help prevent injury.
• Improved cardiovascular fitness: Rugby is a high-intensity sport that involves a lot of running, tackling, and physical exertion. Regular participation in the sport can improve cardiovascular fitness and reduce the risk of heart disease.

What are the Social Benefits of Rugby?

Playing rugby can offer several social benefits, including:

• Building friendships and social connections: Rugby is a team sport that requires players to work together and communicate effectively. This can help build friendships and social connections that can last a lifetime.
• Learning teamwork and leadership skills: Rugby requires players to work together to achieve a common goal, which can help develop teamwork and leadership skills that can be valuable in other areas of life.
• Developing discipline and resilience: Rugby is a physically demanding sport that requires discipline, resilience, and mental toughness. Regular participation in the sport can help develop these qualities.
• Promoting diversity and inclusion: Rugby is a sport that welcomes players of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. This can help promote diversity and inclusion and create a sense of belonging.
• Improving communication skills: Rugby requires players to communicate effectively on and off the field. This can help improve communication skills and confidence.
• Promoting sportsmanship and fair play: Rugby has a strong tradition of sportsmanship and fair play. This can help promote positive values and attitudes towards competition and teamwork.
• Building a sense of community: Rugby is often associated with a strong sense of community and camaraderie, which can help build social connections and a sense of belonging.

Even the general, physical and social benefits of playing rugby it is not surprising that many famous rugby players have spoken about what they have benefited from the sport. Here are a few examples:

• Jonny Wilkinson, former England rugby player and World Cup winner, has spoken about how rugby helped him develop mental toughness and resilience, as well as promoting teamwork and camaraderie.
• Richie McCaw, former New Zealand rugby player and World Cup winner, has talked about how rugby taught him the importance of discipline, hard work, and perseverance.
• Dan Carter, former New Zealand rugby player and three-time World Rugby Player of the Year, has discussed how rugby helped him develop a strong work ethic and a sense of camaraderie with his teammates.
• Brian O'Driscoll, former Ireland rugby player and British and Irish Lions captain, has spoken about how rugby taught him the importance of teamwork, communication, and sportsmanship.
• Magali Harvey, Canadian rugby player and Women's Rugby World Cup star, has discussed how rugby helped her overcome shyness and develop confidence, as well as promoting fitness and health.
• Overall, many rugby players have spoken about the physical, mental, and social benefits they have received from playing rugby, highlighting the positive impact the sport can have on people's lives.

We hope this overview of the benefits of playing rugby has been useful. If you would like to take up rugby, or perhaps you play yourself, and would like some support from an expert then we have a great selection of specialists on our site who can help. They can provide support with all aspects of your rugby performance from strength and conditioning, nutrition, injury prevention and sport psychology.