BUYERâS GUIDE TO RUGBY BOOTS â WHY EVERY POSITION HAS ITS OWN
Rugby boots used to be one-style-fits-all. But now almost every player on the field gets their own type. Find out how each part suits different positions.
THE UPPER
As youâd expect, this is everything that goes on top of the boot and keeps your foot covered. It used to be simple foot coverage, but now uppers are suited to backs and forwards.
- Forwards⊠get a tougher upper thatâs also flexible enough to bend upwards in the scrum
- Backs⊠need a hugging fit and lightweight materials so they can burst to the try line)
- Kickers⊠want their uppers to be like a football boot, with a sweet spot that they can use to strike the ball further
THE OUTSOLE
Youâre spending 80 minutes on your feet so the outsole hitting the ground is massively important.
- Forwards⊠need an outsole thatâs dotted with lots of long studs that let them dig deep into the pitch
- Backs⊠have a handful of studs at the front that help to propel them forward
THE HEEL
Rugby boots used to have no heel on them â it was as if your foot was totally flat on the floor. But ASICS have changed that and put in a 10mm heel in all our rugby shoes
The heel does a couple of things:
- Cuts down the strain on your lower leg with less pressure placed on your Achilles tendon
- Helps you run faster as your feet are angled slightly forwards
- Itâs useful for backs getting through the gain line, and forwards that are running with the ball out of the ruck.
MIDSOLE
The midsole is the heart of any shoe â itâs the material between your insole under your foot and the outsole on the ground.
- Forwards⊠donât need too much cushioning here, but they need enough for those destructive runs
- Backs⊠need lots of cushioning as theyâre running miles over the course of 80 minutes
Thereâs extra cushioning in the heel for backs with GEL units that further soften your landings on the pitch, especially good when it gets cold and the grass can be rock hard.