Rugby Training (Second Row)

**Edward1994** · 18-01-2011 01:55 PM

Hey, i play second row for my local youth team. I get lifted a lot in the line outs, have to lift my fellow team mates and be effective in pushing my team forward in the scrums. I just wanted to know what training is best for me? Do i bulk up and gain wait but then lose speed or what?
Thanks

**Edward1994** · 18-01-2011 01:58 PM

By the way i do weights, but not too heavy, just enough to keep my body and mind in form.

**blackstone** · 18-01-2011 04:03 PM

Hey mate, so do you play for quins or atheltic?

I thimk you need to tell us more about your current size and weight before we can advise on what training you should do.
But from my rugby days (started as 2nd then moved to 7), I would be consentrating on strenght training, depending on your current size, maybe add some bulk and try to add spme explosive work to keep the mobility. We did a lot of caveman type circuits in the pre-season.

I seem to recall an article on here about traning for rugby, have a search and see if you can find it

**Edward1994** · 18-01-2011 06:29 PM

i play for athletic, i'm 16, 6 foot 2 and weight 12.5 stone. i recon im average size but the instructor down the gym has put me on a bulk up programme. is it too soon? i'm concerntrating on legs and arms power atm.

**blackstone** · 18-01-2011 06:47 PM

Good lad. So how are athletic doing this year. I have some good 'clashes' with athletic in my llanelli days.
At 16 its not too early to start in the gym.
Why dont you post up your current routine so we can take a look and comment. As well as leg strength, obviously back and shoulders and very important too!

**Edward1994** · 18-01-2011 07:02 PM

we're doing alright, couple of good wins. I'll put the log up later on now mate.

**London123** · 19-01-2011 10:53 AM

Ive played since i was around 13, now at 20 ive played a variety of positions from centre,flanker, hooker now winger. in terms of pusing in the scrums id try to exercise your neck muscles on a regular basis just so youre less prone to injury. As youre lifting people also youll want to build strength in your shoulder back and legs mainly. When youre lifting weights try and go for a weight where youre just about to push out the last rep! keep doing this and youll see a big difference in no time!

**Bokers** · 19-01-2011 01:00 PM

Keep at it mate

I'm a tighthead. Have a look at the last few posts of my log to see what kind of stuff I'm doing to get stronger for the scrum / lifting.
There's a few other rugby players on here I'm sure will help too

Start a training journal / log they help massively!

**ATZ** · 19-01-2011 02:23 PM

You want to get stronger and add some mass, 12.5 stone @ 6ft2 ain't going to cut it once you get to senior level. I play rugby myself for a National 2 club in England, the biggest difference (skill aside) from the better forwards is strength levels and conditioning. I'm currently following Joe Defranco's "Built like a Badass", it's a good mix of strength work, plyo's, some bodybuilding work for mass and some end of session conditioing "finishers".

If you're new to this, then a nice simple training programme like 531 would suit you well to develop a strength foundation. You could probably let rugby training take care ofthe conditioning aspect.

For reference, I'm 6ft1 play in the back row and weigh 97-100kg depending on the time of year.

**blackstone** · 19-01-2011 04:18 PM

ATZ - at only 16 he has a few years before he will be at senior level so he has some time to naturally at weight too.

The one big difference I noticed while moving up the leagues was speed. I didnt notice too much of a difference in terms of skills