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