Health benefits

5 Top Health Benefits of Playing Rugby

Rugby is very much a contact sports and involve two teams whose players push, tackle, throw, kick and run to get the ball behind the opposition’s try line that requires strength, endurance and fitness.

As well as being a sport with an extremely high level of physical activity, rugby not only makes the players physically fit but also mentally too.

So, what exactly are the Health Benefits of Playing Rugby? Let’s have a look...

1. Cardiovascular fitness

Rugby can improve your body’s cardiovascular system which transports blood, oxygen, and nutrients through your body. It does so by maintaining a healthy weight and improving your level of fitness. The very nature of the game is such that it requires extreme physical effort in the form of running, sprinting and tackling opponents. This kind of exercise builds a strong heart which functions more efficiently.

 

With a preliminary study stating that rugby players cover an average distance of 2.5 miles to 4.25 miles in a single game, you get the opportunity to burn ample calories and the benefit of an increased stamina!

2. Improvement in bone health

Playing rugby regularly can work magic on your body by toning the muscles of the forelimbs, hind limbs and chest. Moreover, the movements made during the game put stress on the bones. When the stress is above normal levels, it stimulates the deposition of calcium along the stress points. This increases your bone density. The advantage of this? You safeguard yourself from developing osteoporosis in the future!

3. Improved mental wellbeing

Did you know that a sport like rugby can also help improve your mental wellbeing? Team games like rugby can help people with mild depression. It gives participants a sense of belonging and purpose that is often lacking in people who suffer from anxiety and depression.

Moreover, the sense of companionship with teammates helps people have a more positive frame of mind and develop a strong support system.

4. Agility and speed

Flexibility and pace are important in rugby. A good game of rugby requires you to suddenly vary your speed, dodge your opponents and score a try. This constant and abrupt twisting helps you to be more flexible. With practice, rugby has the potential to make your body agile and sharpen your reflexes.