| It is widely acknowledged that the average | | | | unintended by-product of such |
| body weight of rugby players has increased | | | | training.Another distinctive feature of |
| considerably over recent years. Less | | | | Martin Harland's rugby training regimen is |
| recognised is the extent to which modern | | | | his requirement that backs undertake the same |
| defensive alignments and strategies have | | | | rigorous basic strength routines as forwards. |
| transformed rugby matches into contests of | | | | Many strength and conditioning coaches |
| attrition where bigger and stronger teams | | | | reserve the heavy "grunt" work for forwards, |
| tend to wear down their smaller and | | | | or even restrict it to the tight |
| physically weaker opponents over the course | | | | five.Exposing backs to very serious weight |
| of a game. Perhaps the most notable change | | | | training has produced a quite extraordinary |
| has been the increased importance of physical | | | | outcome at Sydney University, as evidenced by |
| dominance in the backline.Responding to this, | | | | comparing the body weights of their forwards |
| Sydney University's rugby club has been able | | | | and backs with those of the Wallabies and the |
| to demonstrate that with the right | | | | four Australian Super 14 franchises, the ACT |
| combination of coach and infrastructure, it | | | | Brumbies, NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds and |
| is possible to fast track the physical | | | | Western Force.Not surprisingly, the |
| development of players outside a professional | | | | University's young forwards are outweighed by |
| playing environment. In fact within a couple | | | | each of the five professional squads, 105.3 |
| of seasons these players are able to achieve | | | | kilograms compared to 109.1 to 111.1 |
| a body mass comparable to that of seasoned | | | | kilograms. However, in the backs the |
| professionals together with a solid | | | | situation is reversed with the University |
| foundation of basic strength.In late May, | | | | players averaging 95.1 kilograms as opposed |
| Sydney University announced its team for the | | | | to 90.9 to 92.9 kilograms. Thus the Sydney |
| first round of the Tooheys New Cup, the | | | | University backs outweigh Australia's |
| premier competition in Sydney club rugby. All | | | | national and provincial squads by between 2.2 |
| of the fifteen players are past or current | | | | and 4.2 kilograms per man.If we look at the |
| students who had been developed through the | | | | difference in body weight between backs and |
| Club's Colts and lower grade teams. None of | | | | forwards it can be seen that for Sydney |
| them are paid to play for the Club, although | | | | University it averages 10.2 kilograms, |
| the eleven who are still students receive | | | | against 16.2 to 19.4 kilograms for |
| modest scholarship assistance. Only three of | | | | Australia's professional squads, a very |
| the players are on professional contracts.It | | | | substantial difference.The Sydney University |
| is instructive to compare their body weight | | | | experiment seems to be providing clear |
| and age profiles with those of squads from | | | | evidence that the body weight of rugby backs |
| four major rugby countries, those of | | | | can be dramatically increased through serious |
| Australia, England, New Zealand and South | | | | weight training, but the question arises as |
| Africa. The average weight of the | | | | to whether this has benefits in terms of |
| international teams varies from 101.2 to | | | | playing performance.One answer is that the |
| 102.9 kilograms while their average age is | | | | other strength-oriented football code, |
| from 25.5 to 27.2 years. Comparative figures | | | | American football, has traditionally used |
| for the Sydney University team are 100.5 | | | | training methods similar to those of Martin |
| kilograms and 22.5 years.It can be seen that | | | | Harland. All players, whether linemen or |
| the part-time, unpaid Sydney University | | | | running backs, are required to do heavy gym |
| players, though three to five years younger, | | | | work. No one would seriously suggest that |
| weigh only a couple of kilograms less than | | | | their quick players have inferior dynamic |
| the world's best players. This is quite | | | | abilities to rugby players.Another |
| extraordinary as normally a much greater | | | | justification for building heavier backs with |
| weight disparity would be expected.For the | | | | superior leg drive lies in the already |
| past three years Sydney University Football | | | | mentioned importance of physical dominance in |
| Club has been operating an Elite Development | | | | the rugby backline. With the modern emphasis |
| Squad (EDS) program for its top grade and | | | | on structure and coordination in defensive |
| colts players. Utilising one of the best | | | | alignments, bigger and stronger backs are |
| equipped gymnasiums in Australian rugby, | | | | better able to continually repel opposition |
| players train for eleven months of the year | | | | attacks and also over the course of a game |
| and undertake four weights sessions per week | | | | are likely to create physical and mental |
| off-season and a lesser number while | | | | fatigue in their counterparts.Having achieved |
| playing.The program's strength and | | | | a strong foundation of basic strength and |
| conditioning components have been devised and | | | | greater body mass, Martin Harland is then |
| administered by Martin Harland, a sports | | | | able to focus on speed and explosiveness in |
| scientist who has previously worked with | | | | his players. It is clear that the Sydney |
| professional rugby league, Australian | | | | University approach yields results on the |
| football and basketball teams. His programs | | | | playing field. 2005 was the Club's most |
| for rugby players place a high degree of | | | | successful year, winning the Sydney Club |
| emphasis on basic strength development and | | | | Championship, the First Grade Premiership and |
| rugby-specific fitness. A distinguishing | | | | four lower grade Premierships.Even more |
| feature of his approach is a concentration on | | | | importantly, players who graduate from such a |
| heavy lower body work through exercises such | | | | program are much better equipped to withstand |
| as squats, deadlifts and cleans. In addition, | | | | the rigours of modern rugby.Bruce Ross is CEO |
| both backs and forwards make intensive use of | | | | of MyoQuip, manufacturers of |
| the MyoQuip ScrumTruk, a rugby-specific | | | | variable-resistance strength machines |
| apparatus that targets the large mass leg | | | | including the HipneeFlex and HipneeThrust, |
| extensor muscles, specifically the gluteal | | | | and the rugby-specific ScrumTruk and |
| and quadriceps groups. Hypertrophy or | | | | JumpTruk. MyoQuip exports worldwide from |
| increased muscle mass is a natural and not | | | | Australia. |