EP1748825A1

EP1748825A1 - Apparatus for rugby training and practice

Info

Publication number: EP1748825A1
Application number: EP05744232A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Geoffrey Davies
Original assignee: Rugby Decisions Ltd
Current assignee: Rugby Decisions Ltd
Priority date: 2004-05-10
Filing date: 2005-05-10
Publication date: 2007-02-07
Also published as: WO2005107891A1; GB2427828C; GB0620871D0; GB2427828A8; GB2427828A; GB0410310D0; CA2566198A1; GB2427828B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a training apparatus suitable for rugby training, and can specifically be used to assimilate the back row players of a rugby scrum, without requiring the presence of the other five members of the scrum. The apparatus comprises a ground member (2) having a front end (17) and a back end (18) and four struts (3, 4, 5, 6), each comprising a vertical section at least two perpendicular horizontal bracing members, wherein the first bracing member is positioned closer to the front of the back end (18) of the ground member (2).

Description

Apparatus for Rugby Training and Practice

The present invention relates to an apparatus suitable for rugby training and practice and in particular practising moves involving the back row of a rugby scrum.

During a rugby match, the two opposing teams will scrum down in numerous positions around the pitch depending on the order of play. In a scrum each team has three players in the front row, two players in the second row behind the front row players and three players in the back row. To form a scrum the front row of each team face each other and position their heads under a shoulder of the opposing player.

The back row comprises two players generally called flankers and a player generally called the number 8. In the scrum, one of the flankers will position his or her left shoulder on the backside of the right hand side front row player. The other flanker will position his or her right shoulder on the backside of the left hand side front row player. The number eight will place his or her head between the two second row players with his or her shoulders resting on the backside of both second row players.

During a game a player generally called scrum half places the ball in the scrum between the two opposing front rows. The ball is ideally worked back to the number 8 player who has a number of options of play including picking up the ball and running; or passing the ball to the scrum half who typically stands behind the scrum after placing the ball in the scrum. It is therefore important during team training that the back row practice different moves that result from a scrum and in particular moves between the back row and the scrum half.

Training apparatus presently available to coaches includes a scrummaging machine. This machine acts like an opposing team in a scrum with bracing members or pads against which the front row can brace themselves to assimilate their positioning in a normal scrum. The bracing members or pads are spaced in a line in the same plane to correspond to an opposing ^' front row of a scrum. A scrummaging machine is made heavy and cumbersome to provide resistance against the practising scrum. It is therefore very difficult to move the scrummaging machine around the pitch to practice scrums that take place in different locations during a game.

The present invention provides an improved apparatus for rugby training and practice.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus suitable for rugby training and practice comprising a support having a front and back, and at least first and second spaced bracing members adjacent or extending from the back of the support, wherein the first bracing member is positioned closer to the front of the support than the second bracing member.

Unlike known scrummaging machines which have bracing members in the same vertical plane, the apparatus of the present invention has at least two bracing members in different vertical planes. Preferably there are four spaced bracing members, the two outer bracing members are in the same vertical plane and the two inner bracing members are in the same vertical plane, wherein the outer bracing members are positioned closer to the front of the support than the inner bracing members.

The apparatus can therefore advantageously be used as a training and practice aid assimilating the scrummaging positions of the back row players of a rugby scrum who are not positioned in the same vertical plane in a scrum, without requiring the presence of the other five members of a rugby scrum. Generally in use one of the flankers drops his or her right shoulder to brace against the left outer bracing member. The other flankers drops his or her left shoulder to brace against the right outer bracing member. Finally the number 8 player braces both shoulders against the two inner bracing members. The height of the bracing members is preferably the average height of a normal scrum.

The support is preferably light weight so that it can be easily transported around the pitch to set up practice scrums in different field positions. To aid easy transportation of the support, the bracing members are preferably detachable. The bracing members are preferably pads which ideally provide cushioning for the players bracing their shoulders against the pads.

Furthermore, the pads may be adjusted relative to each other in the vertical plane such that players of all statures are able to use the apparatus. The adjusting means may be a function of the detachable bracing member, therefore attaching at the desired position. The adjusting means is preferably a pin and hole type mechanism which is both simple and reliable.

The support preferably comprises a flat ground member with a front and back edge and at least two (and preferably four) struts extending therefrom adjacent the back edge. The ground member rests against the ground when in use may comprise a plurality of strengthening rods

(typically four). In preferred embodiment, the face of the ground member in contact with the ground is a continuous plate such that sliding across the ground is permitted without experiencing sticking. The plate may be of a metal or wooden material. A flat plate may be positioned on the strengthening rods adjacent the front end of the support, upon which plate a coach can stand and observe play, in one embodiment. However, as indicated a flat plate is preferably provided to cover the entire bottom surface of the face in contact with the ground which may remove the requirement for the plate onto which a coach may stand. The front end of the ground member is preferably tapered. This enables the support to be rocked assimilating movement of a scrum and allowing the back row to practice the different effects of pushing their shoulders up or holding square. Even more preferably, both the front end and back end of the ground members are tapered.

Each of the struts preferably has a substantially vertical section and a substantially horizontal section. The vertical section extends substantially perpendicular from the ground member adjacent the back edge of the member and the horizontal section extends substantially perpendicular from the vertical section away from the back edge of the support. A bracing member is typically connected to the end of the horizontal section of the strut. The horizontal section of the first strut is preferably longer than the horizontal section of the second strut. In the preferred embodiment wherein there are four struts, the horizontal sections of the two inner struts are substantially the same length and the horizontal sections of the two outer struts are substantially the same length, wherein the horizontal sections of the two inner struts are longer that the horizontal sections of the two outer struts. The height of the vertical sections of the struts is preferably the average height, of a scrum. The length of the horizontal section is preferably adjustable. There is further preferably provided a rotational device such as a wheel releasably connectable to the ground member. Even more preferably, there are two wheels, each located on opposing sides of the ground member, enabling simple portability of the apparatus.

The apparatus preferably further includes a ground securing means arranged and configured to releasably substantially prevent movement of the apparatus. When in use the ground securing means preferably comprises an elongate member extendable into the ground. This features enables restraint of the apparatus, in particular when in use, and simulates a game situation wherein the scrum is turned, and defence and attack must react accordingly.

The apparatus preferably includes an attachment comprising a body having a front and back and at least fifth and sixth spaced bracing members adjacent or extending from the back of the body, the fifth bracing member being positioned closer to the front of the body than the sixth bracing member, wherein the body can be detachable connected to the support so that the front of the support substantially faces the front of the body.

The attachment preferably has four spaced bracing members, the two outer bracing members of the attachment being in the same vertical plane and the two inner bracing members of the attachment being in the same vertical plane, wherein the outer bracing members are positioned closer to the front of the body than the inner bracing members.

The attachment can ideally be attached by at least one clip mechanism to the support so that two opposing back rows can assimilate their positioning in a scrum. The distance between the bracing members of the support and the bracing members of the attachment is preferably the average distance between two opposing back rows in a scrum. This enables practice and training of defence and attack back row moves.

The attachment is preferably light weight so that it can be easily moved around the pitch and attached to the support in different field positions. To aid easy transportation of the attachment, the bracing members of the attachment are preferably detachable. The bracing members of the attachment are preferably pads which ideally provide cushioning for the players bracing their shoulders against the pads. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

Refening to Figure 1 there is shown an apparatus 1 comprising a ground member 2 having a front end 17 and a back end 18, and four struts 3, 4, 5, 6 each comprising a vertical section and a perpendicular horizontal section. Ground member 2 may comprise four strengthening rods 7 with a flat rectangular plate 8 thereon positioned at the front end 17 of the ground member.

Alternatively, and in a preferred embodiment, the ground member 2 comprises a solid plate wherein both the back end 18 and front end 17 are tapered to enable sliding of the ground member 2 across the ground surface. To reduce weight, a plate may be positioned on the ground side of the strengthening rods 7 thereby maintaining a low weight whilst also enabling sliding across the ground surface. Further strengthening arms 19 may be provided between the struts 3, 4, 5, 6 and the strengthening rods 7. The vertical section of struts 3, 4, 5, 6 extend perpendicularly from the back end 18 of the ground member. The horizontal section of each strut 3, 4, 5, 6 extend away from the back end 18 of the ground member and are positioned at a height which represents the normal height of a rugby scrum. Four circular pads 13, 14, 15, 16 are detachably attached to the end of the horizontal sections of struts 3, 4, 5, 6 respectively.

However, it will be appreciated the pads 13, 14, 15, 16 may be of any required shape. The horizontal sections of struts 4 and 5 are longer than the horizontal sections of struts 3 and 6. Stabilising arms 10 are positioned between struts 3, 4, 5, 6. A horizontal bar 11 is positioned at approximately waist height . The bar has legs at either end which extend from ground member 2 adjacent plate 8. For rugby training and practice, the apparatus according to the present invention can be used by the back row of a scrum to position themselves as they would be positioned at the back of a rugby scrum during a game. A person who plays in the flanker position drops his or her right shoulder to rest against pad 13. A person who plays in the number 8 position has both shoulders resting against pads 14 and 15. The other flanker drops his or her left shoulder to rest against pad 16. The height of the horizontal section of the struts 3, 4, 5, 6 from the ground is the average height of a normal scrum. Furthennore the distance between bar 11 and the pads 13, 14, 15, 16 represents the approximate position the back row players would scrum down in a normal rugby scrum. Thus a practice scrum can be assimilated without the presence of the other five players usually involved in a scrum.

The coach can stand on a plate 8 as indicated in Figure 1 with horizontal bar 11 providing a convenient standing aid. The plate 8, as previously indicated, may be integral with the ground member 2. The bar 11 also indicates approximately the front of the scrum, if the other five players of the scrum were present. The coach can view the back row and also the play behind the back row when the ball is passed out to the scrum half who stands behind the back of the scrum. The coach is able to feed the ball into the scrum, whilst standing on plate 8.

The apparatus can be used to practice lines of running for the back row in defence and attack; to practice and develop communication between the back row and the scrum half; to practice back row moves and development of back row technical skill; to develop lines of running of the scrum half from the scrum; to practice shielding the ball when there is pressure from the opposing scrum half and many other techniques which involve the back row.

The apparatus is light enough to be carried and can therefore be easily moved to any position on the pitch. Furthermore, the pads 13, 14, 15, 16 may be detachable to aid transportation of the apparatus.

The end of the ground member 2 may be tapered as shown in Figure 2. This provides a sledge effect so that the back row have to create right and/or left shoulder, up or hold square to assimilate conditions in a normal rugby scrum. The apparatus can be rotated through pressure from the back row, enabling practice of back row moves when the scrum has wheeled. Figures 3 and 4 show a further embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention in a 3D view and as a side view respectively, wherein an attachment 30 is attached to apparatus 1. The attachment 30 corresponds to apparatus 1 with a horizontal ground member 20 comprising four struts 23, 24, 25, 26. The vertical sections of each strut 23, 24, 25, 26 extend from the ground member and the horizontal section of struts 23, 24, 25, 26 each have a detachable pad

33, 34, 35, 36 attached thereto. Again, the pads 33, 34, 35 and 36 may be of any required shape and are adjustable in distance from the joint end 17 of the ground member 2.

As indicated in Figure 4, the attachment 30 is simply lifted and positioned onto the ground member 2. Clips (not shown) provided adjacent each corner of the attachment 30 clip the attachment to the ground member 2. The clips may be of any known type, but are preferably closeable without the requirement of any tools. A simple quick release mechanism may be suitable.

Also indicated in Figure 3 is the provision of a spike 32 located fixed adjacent the support struts for the horizontal bar 11. These spikes, known in the art, are able to be dropped into the ground to provide resistance against the scrum. Furthermore, a coach standing on the ground member 2 may drop the spike into the ground by lifting by handle 34 and releasing into ₍the ground. The benefit of this is that the coach can simulate features of a real scrum such as experiencing increased resistance at either or both sides of the scrum thereby causing wheeling of the scrum. This adds to more realistic training.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of releasably correct wheels (not shown) which enable improved portability of the apparatus around the training area. The wheels may utilise a quick release type mechanism and locate within an aperture 36 on either side of arrangement. The arrangement can then be moved in a wheelbarrow type motion.

The embodiment of Figure 3 with the attachment can be used in training to practice moves with two opposing back rows in their scrum positions. The distance between pads 13, 14, 15, 16 and pads 33, 34, 35, 36 corresponds to the normal distance between the back rows of two scrummaging packs to assimilate a normal scrum in a rugby match. The apparatus and attachment of the present invention can be used for rugby training and practice. In particular the aim of the apparatus is to develop decision making skills between the back row and scrum half and to practice execution of moves; to perfect through practice, opposed or unopposed, the different calls from scrummaging situations; and to practice defence from the scrum.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above by way of example only, and it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. Apparatus suitable for rugby training and practice comprising a support having a front and back, and at least first and second spaced bracing members adjacent or extending from the back of the support, wherein the first bracing member is positioned closer to the front of the support than the second bracing member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, having at least two bracing members in different vertical planes.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, having four spaced bracing members, the two outer bracing members being in the same vertical plane and the two inner bracing members being in the same vertical plane, wherein the outer bracing members are positioned closer to the front of the support than the inner bracing members.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the height of the bracing members is the average height of a normal rugby scrum.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the bracing members are adjustable in a vertical plane and are detachable.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the bracing members are cushioned pads.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support comprises a flat ground member with a front and a back edge.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a plate between said front and back edge for contact with the ground.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the support comprises a flat ground member with a front and a back edge and at least two struts extending substantially perpendicular therefrom adjacent the back edge.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the front end of the ground member is tapered.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the struts has a substantially vertical section and a substantially horizontal section, said vertical section extending substantially perpendicular from the ground member adjacent the back edge of the member and the horizontal section extending substantially perpendicular from the vertical section away from the back edge of the support.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein one of said bracing members is connected adjacent the end of the horizontal section of each strut.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the horizontal section of a first strut is longer than the horizontal section of a second strut.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the horizontal sections of two inner struts are substantially the same length and the horizontal sections of two outer struts are substantially the same length, wherein the horizontal sections of two inner struts are longer than the horizontal sections of two outer struts.

15. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the height of the vertical sections of the struts is the average height of a rugby scrum.

16. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 15, further comprising at least one rotational device releasably connectable to said ground member.

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a ground securing means.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including an attachment comprising a body having a front and a back and at least two spaced bracing members adjacent or extending from the back of the body, one of the bracing members being positioned closer to the front of the body than the other bracing member, wherein the attachment can be detachably connected to the support so that the front of the support faces the front of the body.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the attachment has four spaced bracing members, the two outer bracing members of the attachment being in the same vertical plane and the two inner bracing members of the attachment being in the same vertical plane, wherein the outer bracing members are positioned closer to the front^'of the body than the inner bracing members.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18 or 19 wherein the attachment can be attached to the support such that two opposing rugby back rows can assimilate their positioning in a rugby scrum.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the distance between the bracing members of the support and the bracing members of the attachment is average distance between two opposing back rows in a rugby scrum.

22. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 21 wherein the bracing members of the attachment are detachable.

23. Apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 22 wherein the bracing members of the attachment are cushioned pads.

24. Rugby training apparatus, the apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.