Rugby: AIBU to ask

[NearlyGranny]

Whether the game itself builds the massive bodies, or are they recruited because of it, like basketball players?

Someone must know!

Bit of both I think.

Rugby's more about strength and weight, those can be trained. Basketball on the other hand is so much about height, and no amount of training will make you taller.

They’re recruited because of it. They aren’t all massive, it’s mostly the forwards that have the really bulky physique. Backs can be much more athletic looking.

They have to have the right body type and then obviously they train to keep in shape.

As above, forwards have the bulk to drive the scrum, backs are lean for speed and manoeuvrability.

I also wanted to ask - how do you qualify for a national team? Quite a few of the Japanese players seemed to be of Australian/Kiwi/South African origin and Japan isn't known for being a very multicultural country.

Most players come from grassroots junior rugby but snapped up at 15/16 by regional academies, this is where they start to build their physical strength and size, if they’re skilled but not got the size they are given diets to bulk and gruelling gym sessions. I know young lads that have been told they need to gain weight but diets are very specific they can’t just fill up on junk.

@GleamInYourEyes you can qualify for a national team based on place of birth, nationality of parents and nationality of grandparents. So, I was born in England, have Welsh parents and Irish grandparents so can qualify for 3 national teams. You can also qualify based on residency if you have lived in a country for a certain length of time and don’t have caps for another national team.

Qualification can be down to residency, currently 3 years so nappies labuschagne made the grade with others.

Size is important but kolbe and faf de klerk buck this trend and there has always been smaller players.

As for the selection on size I believe that steroids play a role. Several schoolboys were tested positive for steroids at south africas craven week ( an annual junior competition). It may not carry on at senior level but two south africans have recently been suspended on in SA one in France.

I think the residency requirement is now 5 years so a significant commitment to the country you want to play for. It's more obvious that people are from overseas when playing for Japan but lots of national rugby teams have players who are originally from elsewhere - Scotland, Ireland, England and Italy at the moment off the top of my head.

Individual Rugby Unions can impose additional requirements on eligibility. The WRU has rules around where players play their club rugby that change relating to the number of caps accrued. Rhys Webb became ineligible because he went to play for a French club.

It’s a bit of both, I was semi pro for a while and a prop, I’m small for a prop, six foot and around 90kg. Obviously it also very much depends on what position you play, some guys need to be small and quick in rugby as well.

When I was playing for Steelers I went to the gym everyday, I needed to maintain my physique and strength to be a decent prop.

Someone like Keegan Hirst is the ideal prop, six foot five, 120kgish, also helps that he’s nice to look at.