Essential Rugby Gear for Beginners

Mouth Guard

If you only have one piece of equipment for rugby, get a mouth guard. The high-contact sport provides plenty of opportunities to get your teeth knocked out if you do not protect them. Purchase a mouth guard at a sporting goods store, take it home, put it in hot water and then put it in your mouth to let it mold to the shape of your teeth for maximum protection.

Boots or Cleats

Rugby shoes are called boots, and they are similar to soccer cleats, with studs coming out of the bottom to provide stability on grass fields. Rugby boots generally have a higher cut than soccer cleats to offer ankle protection in the high-contact sport, but you can substitute soccer cleats if you don't want to invest in rugby boots right away. Just be sure that the cleats don’t have a toe spike, which is illegal for safety reasons in most rugby leagues.

Clothing

Rugby-specific clothing is important for match play. A rugby jersey should be strong and resistant to ripping when players grab it. Likewise, rugby shorts are strong and have no pockets that would allow opponents to grip them more easily.

Protective Gear

Some rugby players use additional protective gear, most notably scrum caps, which are soft helmets usually worn by forwards. It is illegal to wear any equipment that is made out of a hard material like plastic. So be sure that any brace or padding you purchase meets regulations.

Ball

If you are playing on a team, you will likely not need to provide your own ball, but it can be helpful to have one of your own for practice. A ball is essential for pick-up rugby at a local park. Rugby balls look like footballs with rounded ends rather than sharper points. They are generally white and are made out of a synthetic material that resists slipping when conditions are wet or muddy.