Does wearing protective gear make you a lesser player?

[Teh Mite]

I wore gloves for a while but found I was better without them.

Always wished I had some under armour second skins during particularly cold and miserable winter matches, you know the sort when you lay in a chest freezer post match to warm up.

 

[munstermuffin]

The glove i always found were a bit bad for handling but well did the shoulder in 2years ago and well always wear the pads now as they do help big time.

 

[lance2010]

i hate it when your ruining or sprinting and gumshield falls out (this only hapens if your mouth is open).

gumshhield lol you mean mouth guard must be just kiwi's who say mouth guards.i wear head gear when i play so i don't get culiflower ears hehe nah ive been knocked out a few times but that was more been reckless,shoulder pads don't do much just a mental thing more i wore them after dislocating my shoulder.Didn't wear them when i played league though just the head gear.

 

[lance2010]

gumshhield lol you mean mouth guard must be just kiwi's who say mouth guards.i wear head gear when i play so i don't get culiflower ears hehe nah ive been knocked out a few times but that was more been reckless,shoulder pads don't do much just a mental thing more i wore them after dislocating my shoulder.Didn't wear them when i played league though just the head gear.

don't you mould it to your teeth??? put in cup of boiling water then when soft put in your mouth and suck and press it to your teeth and top of your mouth looks funny but will never fall out....

 

[cyRil]

I always wear shoulder pads, and put my gumshield in even in training, you can't be too careful. I started with a cheap crappy gumshield but after my mate who plays centre with me told me he'd had his two front teeth knocked out when wearing one I thought I'd upgrade slightly. So I went to my dentist who took a mould of my mouth and made a proper guard, cost me £40 but well worth it I think.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Gumshields are a must. I lost a tooth when I was 11 in a bad tackle, luckily for me it was one of my few remaining baby ones so no harm done. I also have a fake front tooth for pretty much the same reasons. You can never be too careful, wear all the safety stuff you can.

 

[TrueSlawter]

as many have said there is nothing wrong with pads, i played a few games not wearing sholder pads and started hurting my sholder bad due to tackling when the other team were doing pick up and play with the forwards all the time, got body armour and now i have no issues so really if he wants to wear the armour or gloves just ignore the coach and do what feels best for you. nearly all forwards on my team were pads of some sort.. i think out of the 20 odd of us only around 4 dont wear anything.

 

[lucky number 7]

I want a gold tooth...so I am going to play the next few games minus gumshiled and see what happens

I wore 2 pairs of shoulder pads for the laugh on wednesday ...it worked..... we won 84-0 ...I advise you all to follow suit

 

[dullonien]

I've heard plenty of people calling for a ban of certain 'protective' gear. Shoulder pads provide very little protection other than when you tackle, and the problem with this is that the tackler can go into the hit with more force than he could without. I'm not sure if this is a good thing, as the collisions in rugby are getting a little insane! I think this is especially true in lower age group rugby, I'm not a fan atall of kids wearing shoulder pads, as big hits should not be encouraged any more than they are.

 

[Amobokoboko]

There is nothing wrong with wearing protective gear. Most of the pro's do it and it really helps.

 

[TrueSlawter]

I agree with a ban on them at say under 13/4 and below level.. as then its so they get the right tackling technique.. above that the game gets more physical so having the padding helps.. aswell as for forwards in the scrum ive found sholder padding stops my sholder giving way.

 

[Sam Owen]

I recommend strongly a mouthguard. Im going to sound hypocritical because I wear absolutely no protective gear. No pads and no mouthguard but I do realise the importance of a mouthguard, not only does it keep your teeth safe but it helps to lessen concussions too.

 

[lucky number 7]

So why dont you wear one?

 

[lucky number 7]

I've heard plenty of people calling for a ban of certain 'protective' gear. Shoulder pads provide very little protection other than when you tackle, and the problem with this is that the tackler can go into the hit with more force than he could without. I'm not sure if this is a good thing, as the collisions in rugby are getting a little insane! I think this is especially true in lower age group rugby, I'm not a fan atall of kids wearing shoulder pads, as big hits should not be encouraged any more than they are.

I normally always wear shoulder pads but today I forgot them , It was hurting making the hits but the lads were staying down alot longer than they normally would and although I lacked confidence making the hits due to a wierd left shoulder so i was actually not going as hard but they were feeling it more ..i think the padding goes two ways although guys will be going faster or harder into the hit the fact that there is not just a bone driving into the guys ribs really compensates for it.

And I am in bits this evening shoulders ****** will not be playing without them for a long time haha ..

 

[Sam Owen]

So why dont you wear one?

Im use to wearing mouthguards, believe me, but for Rugby or League I always chuck it in my sock 20 mins into the game or after the reff checks for it at the start of the game. It's because I talk a lot when I play. The man inside me and the one outside me know exactly what Im up to on defence and attack. I constantly yap my team loves me for it as its all positive, I always make sure not to sound like Im telling someone how to do their job, thats inconsiderate.

However WEAR A MOUTHGUARD. This would have to be the most contradictive thing Ive wrote on our forum.

Those are my reasons

 

[lynam1104]

All the people telling me to mold my mouth guard and get i a new i did it was molded before but it just wasn't a very good one now iv gotten a much better one.

 

[Sam Owen]

I wear a Boxing mouthguard (in my sock lol) and I recommend it too. My one is a shock doctor mouthguard, you'll never lose any teeth as long as you have this brand. Trust me Ive taken a lot of knocks to the mouth and this mouthguard has saved my smile many times.

 

[lynam1104]

Iv got the shock doctor now it's got this layer of gel with makes i more comfortable then your average boil and bite.

 

[lucky number 7]

Im use to wearing mouthguards, believe me, but for Rugby or League I always chuck it in my sock 20 mins into the game or after the reff checks for it at the start of the game. It's because I talk a lot when I play. The man inside me and the one outside me know exactly what Im up to on defence and attack. I constantly yap my team loves me for it as its all positive, I always make sure not to sound like Im telling someone how to do their job, thats inconsiderate.

However WEAR A MOUTHGUARD. This would have to be the most contradictive thing Ive wrote on our forum.



Those are my reasons

Yep thats the best reason going though i too would love to have someone talking on field but unfortunately we all sound like OAPs with our dentures out on our team ....I am unable to talk coherently with one in sadly but I always wear it ....

 

[Sam Owen]

Iv got the shock doctor now it's got this layer of gel with makes i more comfortable then your average boil and bite.

Damm that sounds hi-tech and I thought my one was flash. They're definately good though a bit dear but worth it. Even breathing through shock doctor mouthguards is easier than your average.

Yep thats the best reason going though i too would love to have someone talking on field but unfortunately we all sound like OAPs with our dentures out on our team ....I am unable to talk coherently with one in sadly but I always wear it ....

I had a good coach who taught me well at a young age. Communication on the field was the easiest thing to learn, the Rugby took many seasons.

Dentures Lucky???...Im thinking your a senior and if so I have nothing but respect, especially if your still playing. Us Samoans conk out of all sports at around 36 onwards, after that its get fat, family and church.