| It is widely acknowledged that the average body | | | | muscle mass is a natural and not unintended |
| weight of rugby players has increased | | | | by-product of such training.Another distinctive |
| considerably over recent years. Less recognised is | | | | feature of Martin Harland's rugby training regimen |
| the extent to which modern defensive alignments | | | | is his requirement that backs undertake the same |
| and strategies have transformed rugby matches | | | | rigorous basic strength routines as forwards. Many |
| into contests of attrition where bigger and | | | | strength and conditioning coaches reserve the |
| stronger teams tend to wear down their smaller | | | | heavy "grunt" work for forwards, or even restrict |
| and physically weaker opponents over the course | | | | it to the tight five.Exposing backs to very serious |
| of a game. Perhaps the most notable change has | | | | weight training has produced a quite extraordinary |
| been the increased importance of physical | | | | outcome at Sydney University, as evidenced by |
| dominance in the backline.Responding to this, | | | | comparing the body weights of their forwards |
| Sydney University's rugby club has been able to | | | | and backs with those of the Wallabies and the |
| demonstrate that with the right combination of | | | | four Australian Super 14 franchises, the ACT |
| coach and infrastructure, it is possible to fast | | | | Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and |
| track the physical development of players outside | | | | Western Force.Not surprisingly, the University's |
| a professional playing environment. In fact within a | | | | young forwards are outweighed by each of the |
| couple of seasons these players are able to | | | | five professional squads, 105.3 kilograms |
| achieve a body mass comparable to that of | | | | compared to 109.1 to 111.1 kilograms. However, in |
| seasoned professionals together with a solid | | | | the backs the situation is reversed with the |
| foundation of basic strength.In late May, Sydney | | | | University players averaging 95.1 kilograms as |
| University announced its team for the first round | | | | opposed to 90.9 to 92.9 kilograms. Thus the |
| of the Tooheys New Cup, the premier | | | | Sydney University backs outweigh Australia's |
| competition in Sydney club rugby. All of the | | | | national and provincial squads by between 2.2 and |
| fifteen players are past or current students who | | | | 4.2 kilograms per man.If we look at the difference |
| had been developed through the Club's Colts and | | | | in body weight between backs and forwards it |
| lower grade teams. None of them are paid to | | | | can be seen that for Sydney University it |
| play for the Club, although the eleven who are still | | | | averages 10.2 kilograms, against 16.2 to 19.4 |
| students receive modest scholarship assistance. | | | | kilograms for Australia's professional squads, a |
| Only three of the players are on professional | | | | very substantial difference.The Sydney University |
| contracts.It is instructive to compare their body | | | | experiment seems to be providing clear evidence |
| weight and age profiles with those of squads | | | | that the body weight of rugby backs can be |
| from four major rugby countries, those of | | | | dramatically increased through serious weight |
| Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa. | | | | training, but the question arises as to whether this |
| The average weight of the international teams | | | | has benefits in terms of playing performance.One |
| varies from 101.2 to 102.9 kilograms while their | | | | answer is that the other strength-oriented football |
| average age is from 25.5 to 27.2 years. | | | | code, American football, has traditionally used |
| Comparative figures for the Sydney University | | | | training methods similar to those of Martin Harland. |
| team are 100.5 kilograms and 22.5 years.It can be | | | | All players, whether linemen or running backs, are |
| seen that the part-time, unpaid Sydney University | | | | required to do heavy gym work. No one would |
| players, though three to five years younger, | | | | seriously suggest that their quick players have |
| weigh only a couple of kilograms less than the | | | | inferior dynamic abilities to rugby players.Another |
| world's best players. This is quite extraordinary as | | | | justification for building heavier backs with superior |
| normally a much greater weight disparity would | | | | leg drive lies in the already mentioned importance |
| be expected.For the past three years Sydney | | | | of physical dominance in the rugby backline. With |
| University Football Club has been operating an Elite | | | | the modern emphasis on structure and |
| Development Squad (EDS) program for its top | | | | coordination in defensive alignments, bigger and |
| grade and colts players. Utilising one of the best | | | | stronger backs are better able to continually repel |
| equipped gymnasiums in Australian rugby, players | | | | opposition attacks and also over the course of a |
| train for eleven months of the year and | | | | game are likely to create physical and mental |
| undertake four weights sessions per week | | | | fatigue in their counterparts.Having achieved a |
| off-season and a lesser number while playing.The | | | | strong foundation of basic strength and greater |
| program's strength and conditioning components | | | | body mass, Martin Harland is then able to focus |
| have been devised and administered by Martin | | | | on speed and explosiveness in his players. It is |
| Harland, a sports scientist who has previously | | | | clear that the Sydney University approach yields |
| worked with professional rugby league, Australian | | | | results on the playing field. 2005 was the Club's |
| football and basketball teams. His programs for | | | | most successful year, winning the Sydney Club |
| rugby players place a high degree of emphasis on | | | | Championship, the First Grade Premiership and |
| basic strength development and rugby-specific | | | | four lower grade Premierships.Even more |
| fitness. A distinguishing feature of his approach is | | | | importantly, players who graduate from such a |
| a concentration on heavy lower body work | | | | program are much better equipped to withstand |
| through exercises such as squats, deadlifts and | | | | the rigours of modern rugby.Bruce Ross is CEO |
| cleans. In addition, both backs and forwards make | | | | of MyoQuip, manufacturers of variable-resistance |
| intensive use of the MyoQuip ScrumTruk, a | | | | strength machines including the HipneeFlex and |
| rugby-specific apparatus that targets the large | | | | HipneeThrust, and the rugby-specific ScrumTruk |
| mass leg extensor muscles, specifically the gluteal | | | | and JumpTruk. MyoQuip exports worldwide from |
| and quadriceps groups. Hypertrophy or increased | | | | Australia. |