N
Glam Monitor

Are burpees good for rugby?

Author

Isabella Ramos

Updated on July 07, 2026

While most rugby-specific stamina workouts should be built around running, there is no reason not to include other exercises in your workouts – especially in the offseason. This rugby stamina workout involves lots of burpees and is a race against the clock.

What exercises are good for rugby?

Squat, Bend, Push, Pull, Twist and Single Leg

We group these movements together to perform skills on the pitch such as scrummaging (squat, bend and push), rucking (squat, bend, push, pull) and mauling (squat, single leg, push, pull).

How do I get fit for rugby fast?

Workout 1

  1. 5 minutes of mobility exercises and stretching.
  2. 5 minutes jogging at 25% maximum effort.
  3. Sprint 40 metres at 90% maximum effort, walk for 20 metres.
  4. Repeat for 4 minutes.
  5. Perform 7 sets with 2 minutes rest in between each set.
  6. 5 minutes jogging at 25% maximum effort.
  7. 5 minutes of mobility exercises and stretching.

What cardio should I do for rugby?

Rugby is an 80 minute game. Unless you're a front rower whose position is now guaranteed to be covered by a substitute (sorry props) you'll probably be playing all 80 of those minutes.

What muscles are strong for rugby?

To do that you have to generate as much horizontal force as possible, as fast as possible (without falling down). This particularly benefits the muscles of the lower limbs; glutes, hamstrings, quads, calves and will help build explosiveness.

30 related questions found

How do rugby players bulk up?

The Top 5 Exercises When Bulking for Rugby

  1. Bench press. You are probably already very familiar with the bench press. ...
  2. Bent-over row. This exercise focuses entirely on your back muscles, and variations of the muscle will achieve different results. ...
  3. Pull-ups. ...
  4. Squats. ...
  5. Dumbbell step-ups.

Do rugby players train their neck?

Neck strengthening has been a common part of training programs, especially for front 5 forwards for some time now. Sometimes it has been avoided by coaches due to some of the perceived risk but like in most cases there are for more exercises done poorly than there are poor or dangerous exercises.

Do rugby players have good cardio?

In many ways, rugby is a complex sport to train for. Involving virtually every component of physical fitness, plus high levels of skill, rugby players have to be real fitness all-rounders. That means ruggers can't just go for a jog or hit the gym and expect to be match fit.

Is long distance running good for rugby?

Rugby is a multi-directional sport that requires athletes to accelerate, decelerate, and change direction multiple times during a game. Only focusing on distance training will neglect appropriate conditioning for the proper energy system a rugby player uses for the majority of the game.

Is rowing good cardio for rugby?

Rugby requires whole body aerobic fitness. To raise aerobic fitness you need to exercise the entire body. Rugby players are incorporating indoor rowing into their training regimens, because rowing uses the upper and lower body, recruiting a very large muscle mass and improving aerobic fitness levels.

How do rugby players get ripped?

“For the rugby look, you want a blend of both,” Gotting explains. “Build your workouts around the three big compound lifts of squats, deadlifts and chin-ups. For each aim to do six to ten reps, going slow on the way down and powerful on the way up so your muscles are under tension for 20 to 40 seconds per set.

Does running help rugby?

The key to really building up your stamina is through running and mirroring the movements you're going to put your body through on the rugby pitch. Again you need to bring interval training into the mix.

How do I get a body like a rugby player?

Top Tips to Get a Rugby Player Body

  1. Regular resistance training that aims to enhance muscle strength and power.
  2. Focus on exercises that replicate in-game movements.
  3. Introduce variation into your training every 4-6 weeks to promote muscular development.
  4. Support your training with required energy demands.

Is bench press good for rugby?

Some variation of the bench press remains a staple in rugby clubs across the globe. Upper body strength remains a valuable asset in the game, once it doesn't come at the cost of compromising a player's speed or endurance.

Is rugby a good exercise?

Health benefits of rugby

Rugby codes involve sprinting, tackling, pushing and kicking. Health benefits include: cardiovascular fitness and endurance. strength in upper and lower body.

What do professional rugby players eat?

An average food day for a Premiership Rugby Player

The bedrock of each meal is a quality source of protein. At breakfast this will usually be from eggs, chicken sausages, fish, and dairy products. The carbohydrate sources will be multigrain bread, bagels, homemade granola and porridge.

Is sprinting good for rugby?

As sprinting is the main test of speed in rugby, it's sprinting you need to do to become faster. It's a case of practice makes perfect. Gym work and power training will undoubtedly help increase your speed potential, but if you want to sprint faster, you need to include sprinting in your workouts.

How fit are professional rugby players?

Nowadays, your typical elite rugby player will be lean, muscular and exceptionally fit, regardless of their position on the teamsheet. According to a study by Health24, elite rugby players have increased in mass by over 10kg in the past half-century.

Why is fitness important in rugby?

Being a very physical game, players must be able to withstand heavy collisions with opposing players and have the strength and power not only to make tackles but also to break out of them. This leads on to the next physical requirement of a fit rugby player and that's speed and agility.

Why are rugby players fat?

This is due to the characteristic of our sport, in rugby the center of gravity is very important. If you are a front row, you need to have a very low center of gravity, since the position requires. If you're tall you have to be very technical to play in that position, there will always be many fat dwarf.

What is the average weight of a rugby player?

Summary. The average weight across all rugby positions is 218 lbs or 102 kg. The average weight across the forwards (numbers 1-8) is 246 lbs or 112 kg. The average weight across the backs (numbers 9-15) is 211 lbs or 99 kg.

Are rugby players strong?

It is not unreasonable to expect a front-row player at the international level to be able to squat 2.5 times their body weight. This means a squat of over 280 kg for a 115 kg player. What is this? This puts rugby in the upper echelons of strength requirements across all sports.

How do I get a stronger rugby neck?

Simple neck flexion – lie on your back on the floor or an exercise bench. Lift your head off the floor and tuck your chin into your chest. Lower your head and repeat. Do as many reps as it takes to fatigue your rear front muscles.

How do you prevent whiplash in rugby?

One of the most effective ways to reduce the likelihood of suffering a neck injury in rugby is to strengthen the neck muscles. Stronger neck muscles can help absorb impact and also resist hyperflexion and hyperextension.