WHAT DO RUGBY PLAYERS AND GYMNASTS HAVE IN COMMON?

What do rugby players and gymnasts have in common?

Both must be strong, powerful, agile, flexible, anaerobically fit, courageous and good at performing under pressure.

Gymnasts develop their strength using only their body weight rather than exercise equipment. These body weight exercises are great for developing functional hypertrophy!

Here are 8 gymnastics moves that rugby players should try out that will develop your strength and improve your performance on the pitch:

1) Animal crawls- develops core muscles and improves mobility and agility.

2) Forward rolls, backward rolls and cartwheels- help develop a sense of balance and the ability to regain your footing after a fall or big hit on the pitch. These moves will help increase the fluidity in your play!

3) Frog stands- ideal hand balancing exercises for beginners! This move teaches balance while being inverted, it creates and maintains tension through your body and shows how a small shift in position can be the difference between success and failure, much like in a rugby scrum.

4) Handstand- increases shoulder strength and stability. Develops deltoids, traps, triceps, deep rotator cuff muscles and teaches balance and core strength.

5) Hand stand push ups- this move is ideal for line out lifters! The dynamic pressing element mirrors the movement of lifting a team mate in a line out and simultaneously develops core strength and balance!

6) L-sit’s- during an L sit the core contracts isometrically and creates intra abdominal pressure, this provided the spine with support from within this is essential for safe strength training and rugby, especially in contact situations.

PermaLink: https://bath.thelittlegym.co.uk/blog/2024/09/17/rugbyplayersandgymnasts