Rugby shorts
Encyclopedia
Rugby shorts are a type of shorts that are worn while playing rugby
. They are designed to take the strains of the game and have traditionally been made from cotton
.
(IRB) Laws of the Game of Rugby Union 2010 relates to the clothing that a player may wear while playing rugby union
. In particular:
"A player must not wear any items containing buckles, clips, rings, hinges, zippers, screws, bolts or rigid material or projection."
"A player must not wear shorts with padding sewn into them".
with reinforced seams. The use of these shorts is increasing as they are lighter, more durable, more comfortable, and better retain their color compared to traditional cotton shorts.
.
is the most popular producer of rugby kit. Kooga
are a very popular supplier, particularly to rugby league
teams.
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
. They are designed to take the strains of the game and have traditionally been made from cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
.
IRB Regulations on shorts
Law 4 of the International Rugby BoardInternational Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
(IRB) Laws of the Game of Rugby Union 2010 relates to the clothing that a player may wear while playing rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. In particular:
- Law 4.4 (c) states that:
"A player must not wear any items containing buckles, clips, rings, hinges, zippers, screws, bolts or rigid material or projection."
- Law 4.4 (f) states that:
"A player must not wear shorts with padding sewn into them".
Fit
Shorts should be comfortable, as tight shorts increase the chances of sustaining a serious injury. The longer and baggier shorts are, the easier it will be for opponents to pull an opponent back. The colour and style of shorts are determined by the players club.Construction
Rugby shorts must be able to withstand punishment and should be thick enough to provide some protection while playing. Most have pockets and many have a drawstring to prevent them coming down when tackled. While the most popular material has been cotton, modern shorts can also be made from higher grade polyesterPolyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
with reinforced seams. The use of these shorts is increasing as they are lighter, more durable, more comfortable, and better retain their color compared to traditional cotton shorts.
Variations
- Second row forwards use special line-outLine-outA line-out is the means by which, in rugby union, the ball is put back into play after it has gone into touch. It is the equivalent of the throw-in in soccer. Rugby league abolished line-outs in 1897...
shorts which have reinforced stitching to help them to get lifted in the line out.
- Tag rugbyTag RugbyTag Rugby, also known as rippa rugby, flag rugby league or flag rugby, is a non-contact team game in which each player wears a belt that has two velcro tags attached to it, or shorts with velcro patches. The mode of play is based on rugby league with many similarities to touch rugby...
shorts are generally lighter due to the non-contact nature of the sport and have tags attached with velcroVelcroVelcro is the brand name of the first commercially marketed fabric hook-and-loop fastener, invented in 1948 by the Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral...
patches.
Underwear
Rugby shorts are generally worn over a jock strap or increasingly, over compression shortsCompression shorts
Compression shorts are undergarments usually worn by athletes. They are form-fitting garments and when worn cover the athlete's waist to mid or lower thigh. These garments are often made from a spandex-type material, similar to cycling shorts....
.
Manufacturers of rugby shorts
Canterbury of New ZealandCanterbury of New Zealand
Canterbury of New Zealand is a New Zealand-based sports apparel company that focuses on rugby football. The company is named after the Canterbury area in New Zealand where the company started to make knitwear. Other than producing rugby kits, the brand is also known for their rugby protective wear...
is the most popular producer of rugby kit. Kooga
KooGa
KooGa is an Australia-based rugby apparel company. It was established in December 1999. The company is headquartered in Labrador on the Gold Coast of Queensland, with other Australian offices as well as a UK office in Rochdale, Greater Manchester....
are a very popular supplier, particularly to rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
teams.