*** New Official Rugby Thread ***

[BreezerD]

SA Rugby has already announced that they will be submitting a tender to the ARU for a team: http://www.sarugby.com.au/news/2448/
Have a look at the ******** page they started named 'Black Falcons for National Rugby Championship 2014' and like/share the page if you wish (I did). Whether or not it gets approved is another thing...

Yeah, I noticed you're from Parkes and despite being from the western suburbs myself, I'd like to see a country team included. Also fear they will miss out too.

Gordon, this week, expressed interest to lodge a bid combined with Norths, Manly and Warringah. Assuming there will also be a Western Sydney team, and a Sydney metro team (Uni, Easts, Randwick?) then there is three already.
Then there is the possibility of central coast and southern districts/hunter/south coast sides potentially fielding teams.

It will be interesting to see who comes out on top, given what you said about fielding SR players (should they be available).

Whilst Foxtel is apparently providing a lot of funding towards this, I hope it manages to raise the profile of Rugby in Australia as a whole in the long term.

I am a member of the Wider Training Group for the SA Black Falcons team, and I'd just like to say thanks for your support! The NRC is very important in growing rugby in South Australia. At present, any talented young Rugby players are whisked away (usually to QLD for some reason) around the age of 16, and we never see them again. Liam Gill, Alex Rokobaro, James Hilterbrand, and UJ Seuteni are the most recent examples of that. If we did get an NRC team I imagine there would be a lot of new faces, and I would almost certainly not find myself in the team for a few more years yet, but I think that for the big picture of Australian Rugby it would be a good move to put an NRC team in SA.

Thanks again for your support!

[StrongmanSteve]

Hello mates. I'm starting rugby next Tuesday. Any tips to help learn the game or position? Or other useful info.
Thanks!

[ruckin]

Hello mates. I'm starting rugby next Tuesday. Any tips to help learn the game or position? Or other useful info.
Thanks!

What position you playing bro?

[FLChamp]

What position you playing bro?

He said he's just starting. With those stats they'll probably try to have him as a flanker though. Let's hope his fitness is as good as his strength.

[ruckin]

On my phone, cant see stats

If flank then yeah what he said. You're gonna have to be just about the fittest guy on the pitch in addition to having solid strength/size

[krakkerz]

Hello mates. I'm starting rugby next Tuesday. Any tips to help learn the game or position? Or other useful info.
Thanks!

Firstly, don't forget the advice you received earlier on this thread.

I'm not sure where you'll end up on the field, but as I said before, I'd put you at flanker to learn the game. Other coaches would put you on the wing. Wherever you are, though, remember, it is better to get in and have a go rather than waiting for the game to come to you (unless the gameplan calls for it).

Just enjoy it. Your team and coach will teach you to play where and how they want to. We'll be happy to provide specific advice as you find out more about the game.

Welcome to the game and I hope you have a long career and that you enjoy it as much as I have.

[StrongmanSteve]

Thanks for replying guys. Yeah, not sure where I'll be playing yet but I'd like to play a back position (preferably wing) as I want to run the ball. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted me to play a forward. I'm an athlete, and I think I can play almost anywhere, so we'll see where I end up. My fitness isn't the greatest, but it has been improving lately.

[FLChamp]

Depends on the team and their playing style. Some teams like to keep the ball amongst the pack players. Then you get numerous opportunities to truck people.

[krakkerz]

Thanks for replying guys. Yeah, not sure where I'll be playing yet but I'd like to play a back position (preferably wing) as I want to run the ball. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted me to play a forward. I'm an athlete, and I think I can play almost anywhere, so we'll see where I end up. My fitness isn't the greatest, but it has been improving lately.

Forwards handle and run the ball more often than backs - especially the wingers. At least they do in my system. The loose forwards and halves do the most handling. The outside backs tend to finish movements. For me, I look at strong one-on-one defence for my backs before I look at running ability.

[Wilonso]

As others have already mentioned it will depend on the system your team has in place and the style they like to play. I get to do a lot of running/crashing at inside center (Nothing better). You may have a preference for a position once you understand the game a bit more but you will also find that you may excel in a different position.

I started playing Rugby at 10. I have played as a hooker, fly half, full back, flanker till eventually my true position became clear as a center. Its good to get around as you get to understand the game from different positions. Most importantly have fun

[JayGH]

So I'm buying new boots for the season, and am trying to find something suitable for a loose forward.
Any suggestions?

[Pocock]

So I'm buying new boots for the season, and am trying to find something suitable for a loose forward.
Any suggestions?

http://www.lovell-rugby.co.uk/Rugby-...r-White-or-Red
Are probably the best loose forward boots I've ever played in for hard pitches. They aren't particularly light though if you compare them to a synthetic material boot.

I also hear good things about the adidas FF80 but I've never tried them

[SheWulf]

Winger, inside center here... Anyone play in the NE usa? Specifically tri state?

[ruckin]

Winger, inside center here... Anyone play in the NE usa? Specifically tri state?

Jersey rugby brah here

[SheWulf]

Jersey rugby brah here

What team?

[StrongmanSteve]

Thanks guys. I'll go wherever they want me. Also turns out I can start a week early so first practice is today in 3 hours! I'll report back with results.

[lhprop1]

Thanks guys. I'll go wherever they want me. Also turns out I can start a week early so first practice is today in 3 hours! I'll report back with results.

Concentrate on learning the basics like rucking, passing, and tackling. 80% of your time in matches is spent doing those 3 basic skills, regardless of your position.

[ruckin]

What team?

Rowan U. Yourself?

[SheWulf]

Rowan U. Yourself?

Morris. What position you play?

[ruckin]

Morris. What position you play?

Damn you're all the way up north huh? And i play lock

[JayGH]

http://www.lovell-rugby.co.uk/Rugby-...r-White-or-Red
Are probably the best loose forward boots I've ever played in for hard pitches. They aren't particularly light though if you compare them to a synthetic material boot.

I also hear good things about the adidas FF80 but I've never tried them

cheers, these look good. I'm a fan of moulded studs given the amount of firm grounds we're forced to play on in Australia.

Saw the FF80 on special but wasn't a fan of the laces and hesitant about the synthetic material

[SheWulf]

Damn you're all the way up north huh? And i play lock

Yup love it up here.


Anyone going to Vegas 7s next weekend??

[krakkerz]

So I'm buying new boots for the season, and am trying to find something suitable for a loose forward.
Any suggestions?

I love Canterbury boots and have used them for years. My son is a loose forward and uses Canterbury in the wet and Blades in the dry.

This year, though, we're both looking at Adidas Kakaris.

[PatrickGallo]

Irish ( blue blood c'mon Leinster!). Injured ATM, play winger or centre for school team.

[StrongmanSteve]

Forgot to update. Practice was alright. It lasted over 3 hours with conditioning at the end. The game is very complex and confusing to me, especially the different plays they run (I didn't know rugby had plays lol). I went with the backs but we didn't do any position specific things so not sure where I'd be placed exactly. Not sure if I'll continue with it as their first game is already on Saturday and I don't know what the hell I'm doing out there. Haha. It was a good workout though.

Concentrate on learning the basics like rucking, passing, and tackling. 80% of your time in matches is spent doing those 3 basic skills, regardless of your position.

Yeah, passing is a lot more difficult than I had assumed. I was pulled aside to work with a guy on passing and was able to do it fairly well at the end so that's good.

[krakkerz]

The game is very complex and confusing to me, especially the different plays they run (I didn't know rugby had plays lol).

Generally, the plays only really happen off the set piece and in certain parts of the field. The rest of the time, you'll have a basic structure and desired running and defensive channels. It ends up easier than you first think.

Not sure if I'll continue with it as their first game is already on Saturday and I don't know what the hell I'm doing out there.

Sounds like an excuse to me..... Turn up, sit on the bench, watch and learn. When you go on, concentrate on one aspect of the game and rely on your outside centre to help you out in defence. Concentrate on one aspect of your game and have fun, rather than being worried that you don't know what you're doing.

Yeah, passing is a lot more difficult than I had assumed. I was pulled aside to work with a guy on passing and was able to do it fairly well at the end so that's good.

Passing, tackling and rucking are the key skills. If you practiced 24/7 for 25 years, you'd still have room for improvement. You'll get there. Stay with it.

[jamalfudge]

Forgot to update. Practice was alright. It lasted over 3 hours with conditioning at the end. The game is very complex and confusing to me, especially the different plays they run (I didn't know rugby had plays lol). I went with the backs but we didn't do any position specific things so not sure where I'd be placed exactly. Not sure if I'll continue with it as their first game is already on Saturday and I don't know what the hell I'm doing out there. Haha. It was a good workout though.



Yeah, passing is a lot more difficult than I had assumed. I was pulled aside to work with a guy on passing and was able to do it fairly well at the end so that's good.

First few matches I played I had no idea what was going on. I would hear my teammates recall specific occurances and plays and thought to myself "how the hell can you remember specifics in all this chaos?" It gets better. Trust me.

[Wilonso]

The quickest way to learn is to be thrown in at the deep end. It does appear to be very complicated to someone who is entirely new to the sport but you will soon realize its really quite simple. That plus your team mates breathing down your neck also makes you a pretty quick learner lol

If you do find yourself playing and your not sure what to do the one thing that i would suggest is to ensure you secure the ball and do not get isolated, if anything run closer to one of your team mates who will thus give you the support you need in keeping the ball.

[jamalfudge]

...and ignore all advice from backs.

[JayGH]

I love Canterbury boots and have used them for years. My son is a loose forward and uses Canterbury in the wet and Blades in the dry.

This year, though, we're both looking at Adidas Kakaris.

Have worn Canterbury in the past, and I tried on the Kakaris. They're very comfortable and would recommend them to anyone in the Tight 5.

I ended up going with moulded though, picked up some X-Blades. I liked the stud configuration, the roo leather upper and the price ($99).