A rugby player’s thigh is no stranger to bruises and abrasions. They spend hours a day trying to break down the opposing team’s defensive line with ferocious tackles, meaning their thighs are often left in less than ideal condition.
In fact, injuries are so common that players tape their thighs as a preventive measure before every game.
Taping isn’t just for rugby players; athletes of all kinds use the technique to prevent injury. It involves wrapping the skin tightly with adhesive tape in order to stop it from moving around too much and becoming more susceptible to damage.
This makes sense when you think about how an athlete moves their body during sports games; if their legs can’t move freely, there is less chance that they will injure themselves in the process.
That said, it also helps improve blood flow and keep muscles warm which are both essential for preventing cramps or other issues arising from exertion during rigorous physical activity such as playing sports professionally at an international level as Rugby Union does!
So, why do rugby players tape their thighs? Rugby players tape their thighs to get a better grip on the thighs when they are lifting them in a lineout. Additionally, Strapping also helps reduce muscle tearing and protects against scrapes and bruises.
What is the practice known as:
The practice is known as “strapping”, and the tape that rugby players wear on their thighs is called “strapping tape”. This type of tape is designed to help protect against injury. It’s used to wrap around a player’s thigh and prevent a muscle or ligament pull.
Strapping up legs can prevent injuries like thigh strains by reducing the likelihood of muscle tearing when there’s repeated contact with the ground.
3 Reasons to tape thighs:
To help to lift in lineout:
Taping helps better grip onto the thighs at the time of lifting. This makes it easier to support a player’s weight (as rugby players are so big) and make sure they don’t slip out.
To keep the skin on their legs together:
Rugby players tape their thighs for the same reasons other athletes tape their legs, arms, hands, and feet. Taping can prevent cuts from developing because it holds the skin in place when a player falls down or gets tackled.
It can also protect against scrapes and bruises. Players may opt to wear rugby tape if they have some scrapes on their legs already because it keeps the scabs from opening up or getting knocked off easily. Rugby players sometimes also use thigh tape for its extra grip for passing and catching the ball.
If they have an injury:
If a player has an injury, it is quite common for them to tape up the thigh. This can be done for a number of reasons including keeping the muscles warm to prevent cramping as well as to provide some extra protection (like a mouthguard) from further injury.
A key difference between rugby taping and other sports is that this type of tape is not used in the same way as when someone sprains their ankle or wrist.
In addition to protecting its players from potential injuries during gameplay, there are also a number of benefits when applying tape around one’s thighs before playing a game of rugby. This applies to both professional and amateur players.
Rugby players tape their thighs for two reasons:
- To provide support to the muscles in the thighs, which can strain when performing quick movements and stops.
- To prevent chafing between the legs when wearing rugby shorts.
Do they tape other areas?
Taping other areas is also common: shoulders, ankles, and wrists are all common areas that rugby players tape up. Many also tape their fingers for comfort, and warmth and to avoid getting them caught in the ball.
6 Steps of taping thighs:
- The legs are shaved smoothly to ensure the tape sticks properly.
- The skin is cleaned with rubbing alcohol to remove any bacteria, lotions, and oil.
- The skin is dried completely so that water does not interfere with the application of the tape.
- The tape is applied tightly in a spiral motion from the top of the thigh to just below the knee.
- The tape is cut off about one inch above where it was applied and taped again by folding that inch over itself and taping it down.
- The excess piece of tape at the bottom of the leg may be cut off or folded under and taped down as well.
Is it common?
This phenomenon is actually very common in rugby. In fact, most players of the sport use tape on their thighs when playing, especially during a match. It’s a way to prevent slipping and reduce the chances of injury as well as protect any bruises or cuts you may already have in that area.
Additionally, it’s within the rules for players to tape parts of their bodies, so there’s no need to worry about penalties if you’re thinking of taping your thighs.
There are many different types of tape used by athletes in both rugby and other sports like American football, soccer, basketball, and mixed martial arts. Some prefer zinc oxide tape while others swear by Kinesio tape.
The type you use is up to your own preference and comfort levels.
A physiotherapist or doctor will generally apply the tape for you before a game or match begins; however, if they aren’t handy at the moment then it’s possible to take care of it yourself with some extra supplies like scissors and tweezers at hand.
Is it allowed in rugby?
Players tape their thigh muscles to reduce the likelihood of tears or strains. The best thing you can do to prevent a muscle tear is to condition your body. However, given the fact that rugby players are in high-contact situations and that there are many big guys on the field, injuries can still occur.
Yes, it is allowed in rugby because it is a preventive measure that helps stabilize the muscles across joints so that players don’t overstretch them as they make quick movements during play.
Is it helps rugby players?
Taping rugby players’ thighs helps to prevent skin abrasions. It also helps to protect players’ thigh muscles from injury and reduce the risk of bruising by restricting blood flow while they play.
The American Academy of Family Physicians states that taping an athlete’s thigh during a game can help prevent a muscle strain or sprain. Taping may also help to stabilize a joint, which can reduce the risk of strains and sprains, as well as other injuries.
Types of rugby tape:
When it comes to helping athletes recover from a tear or injury and get back into action, the tape is king. For the last 100 years, medical and sports researchers have been using various types of super-strong fabrics, elastic bands, and patches to give their charges an edge in competition.
The most popular here in North America is called Kinesio Tape; this particular brand of tape is produced by a group of kinesiologists based out of Japan. The origins of kinesiology—the study of human motion—are rooted in the ancient Greek word kinesis (movement).
How does tape help in Lineout?
In lineout, the tapes help a player grip onto the thighs when they are lifting them. This makes it easier to support their weight and make sure they don’t slip out.
Taping thighs helps a lot with weightlifting as well – if you’re trying to lift your friend who weighs more than 100 kgs!
Do rugby players tape thighs because of Lineout?
A lot of people think that players tape their thighs because it helps them reach the ball in lineouts.
But according to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 1995, taping did not significantly reduce skin abrasions during Rugby Union matches.
The reason why some players still tape their thighs is not that they want to win lineouts but because they want to protect themselves from injury, prevent skin damage and hold pads in place.
What’s underneath the tape?
Underneath the tape is a layer of padding called zinc oxide tape, which is made from cotton. This sports tape protects the players’ thighs from rashes, scratches, and blisters that could occur if direct contact with the ground occurred during play. It also helps reduce the chances of infection due to its medicated properties.
What Kind Of Tape Is Used For Lifting In Rugby Lineouts?
It’s commonly known that Polypropylene is a great choice for providing support to the joints and for kinesiology taping. Generally, it’s also a cheaper choice than cotton when you’re buying your tape. Since Polypropylene tape is waterproof and durable, it doesn’t need to be changed daily, allowing the player to wear the same wrap for several days if needed.
You’ll want to use this type of tape for any athletic activity where you’re getting sweaty or wet and don’t have time to change your straps between activities. Since most rugby players are active in many other sports as well, this kind of tape can be used across different activities as needed.
Do players Tape For Thigh Injuries?
Thigh injuries are common in rugby, whether they be a bruise, contusion, strain, or ligament damage. The most common cause of thigh injuries is being tackled.
In order to limit the extent of the damage caused by tackles, many players choose to wear protective headgear and shin guards. However, as these pads do not cover the whole thigh area, another form of protection is often used known as tape for thigh injuries.
As well as shielding the thighs from knocks and impact from tackles (or any other type of physical contact such as scrummaging), tape for thigh injuries also has some other functions including:
- Providing support to muscles in order to reduce stress.
- Compressing muscles can help them recover quicker.
- Preventing cramps from setting in.