GB2373734A

GB2373734A - A rugby scrum simulation device

Info

Publication number: GB2373734A
Application number: GB0107440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Thomas Telfer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-24
Filing date: 2001-03-24
Publication date: 2002-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-24
Also published as: GB0107440D0; GB2373734B

Abstract

A training apparatus 1 for back row forwards of a rugby team comprises a left-hand scrum pad 6, a right hand scrum pad 8 and a central pair of scrum pads 10 displaced rearward of the left and right hand scrum pads. Preferably the left and right hand scrum pads are mounted on a transverse bar 2 and the central pair of pads are mounted on a longitudinally extending Y-shaped bar 4. Optionally the transverse and Y-shaped bars may be covered in padding and the apparatus may be adapted for the training of two teams by mounting a pair of oppositely facing training apparatuses 1,1' on a base and linking them by a link bar 22. The link bar may be rotatably mounted to a central column on the base which limits the rotation angle. The device can further comprise a ball delivery chute 42 movable to deliver a ball down one of two channels.

Description

TITLE A Training Apparatus and Scrum Simulation Device DESCRIPTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a training apparatus and scrum simulation device for rugby union football that allows the back row forwards to practice scrummaging without the need for the front five forwards to be present.

Background Art The scrummage (or"scrum") is an important feature of rugby union football ("rugby").

It is used principally to restart the game after an attack fails due to an infringement and the opposing team are unable to take advantage.

Eight players on either team are used to form a scrum and they adopt the positions shown in Figures I and 2. The eight players are as follows: (1) loose-head prop, (2) hooker, (3) tight-head prop, (4) left-hand lock, (5) right-hand lock, (6) left-hand flanker, (7) right-hand flanker, and (8) no. 8. The"front five forwards"of the loose-head prop, the hooker, the tight-head prop and the two locks are the primary ball winners in the scrum. The"back row forwards"of the left-side flanker, right-side flanker and the no. 8 are the primary users of the ball. The no. 8 aims to control the ball from the base of the scrum and when necessary initiates attacks from this position. The two flankers follow the no. 8 and support any attack.

Once the scrum is settled, the ball is fed quickly into the side of the scrum by the non infringing team's scrum half (number (9) ). This is called the"put-in". As soon as the ball leaves the scrum half's hands, the hooker will attempt to strike it back through the target channel between the legs of the loose-head prop. In practice there are only two ways in which the ball can emerge from the scrum: between the left-hand flanker and the left-hand lock (channel 1), and on the right of the no. 8 (channel 2). Channel I has the advantage of speed but delivers the ball at a place where the scrum half may be pressurised by his opposite number. The other channel leaves the ball longer in the

scrum but makes sure that the ball is delivered where both the no. 8 and the scrum half can use it. It is important to practice dealing with deliveries from both channels so that a range of different attacks and defences can be fully developed.

Scrum machines are well known. Examples include those sold under the trade marks SCRUM MASTER, PREDATOR and THE LOW ONE by Ram Rugby International Ltd and the trade mark RHINO by Rhino Rugby. Conventional scrum machines are designed to allow the full eight-man scrum to practice and train and have a"flat" arrangement of scrum pads designed to support the hooker and the two props. The arrangement of scrum pads can be mounted on a roller platform, sled platform or fixed platform, all of which can incorporate hydraulic or pneumatic systems to vary the height and angle of the scrum pads and simulate the kinds of forces encountered when scrummaging against an opposing team.

Because it is the back row forwards who set up attacks for the rest of the team from the scrum it is advantageous for them to practice and train without the need for the front five forwards to be present. However, this is impossible using conventional scrum machines. The present invention therefore seeks to address this problem by providing a training apparatus and a rugby scrum simulation device which has a"triangular" arrangement of scrum pads designed to support the two flankers and the no. 8.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a training apparatus for back row forwards of a rugby team comprising: a left-hand scrum pad for supporting a shoulder of a first back row forward; a right-hand scrum pad for supporting a shoulder of a second back row forward; and a central pair of scrum pads for supporting both shoulders of a third back row forward; wherein the central pair of scrum pads are displaced rearward of the left-hand and right-hand scrum pads.

The first back row forward is preferably the left-hand flanker (number (6)), the second back row forward is preferably the right-hand flanker (number (7)) and the third back row forward is preferably the no. 8 (number (8)). Alternatively, the first back row forward can be the no. 8 and the third back row forward can be the left-hand flanker.

The back row forwards are supported by the scrum pads in the same way they would be supported by the front five forwards in a proper eight-man scrum.

The left-hand and right-hand serum pads are preferably mounted on a transverse bar and the central pair of scrum pads are preferably mounted on a longitudinally extending Yshaped bar, the single end of which is attached to a central portion of the transverse bar.

To prevent injury the transverse bar and the Y-shaped bar may be covered in suitable padding.

The training apparatus may be mounted on any roller platform, sled platform or fixed platform in the same way as a conventional serum machine. However, the training apparatus is preferably used as part of a rugby scrum simulation device for the back row forwards of two rugby teams comprising a base on which a pair of oppositely facing training apparatuses are mounted.

The pair of training apparatuses are preferably joined by a longitudinal link bar which extends between a central portion of the two transverse bars. Additional cross-bracing may be provided between the longitudinal link bar and the two transverse bars if necessary. The base preferably includes a central column to which the longitudinal link bar is rotatably mounted. The central column preferably includes an inner tube, the upper end of which is welded or otherwise permanently fixed to the longitudinal link bar, and an outer tube, the lower end of which is welded or otherwise permanently fixed to the base. The inner tube is received within the outer tube and allows the longitudinal link bar to freely rotate on the central column. This allows for more accurate simulation of the scrum because it permits the situation known as"wheeling"where the scrum turns through an angle.

The longitudinal link bar is preferably rotatably mounted on the central column by means of a friction assembly. The friction assembly preferably includes a first disc

which is welded or otherwise permanently fixed to the upper end of the inner tube, and a second disc which is welded or fixedly attached to the upper end of the outer tube. A friction plate is preferably held in frictional contact between the first and second discs and may be formed from nylon or a similar material. One of the discs preferably includes a hole for receiving a clamping screw and the other of the discs includes a corresponding arcuate slot. The clamping screw is passed through the hole and the arcuate slot and can be tightened and slackened to produce the required amount of resistance to rotation between the first and second discs. Additional holes and arcuate slots can be provided in the first and second discs to receive more clamping screws if necessary.

The length of the arcuate slot is preferably chosen so as to limit the rotation of the longitudinal link bar on the central column to a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle is preferably between 30 and 90 , and more preferably between 50 and 700.

The rugby scrum simulation device preferably includes a longitudinal support bar on either side of the longitudinal link bar and which extends between the end portions of the two transverse bars. To prevent injury, a padded board is preferably attached to each of the longitudinal support bars. The padded boards preferably extend the full length and height of the device to provide complete protection.

To allow the back row forwards to practice dealing with deliveries from both channels the rugby serum simulation device preferably includes a ball delivery chute adjacent one of the training apparatuses. The ball delivery chute is moveable between a first position where the ball is delivered down channel 1 and a second position where the ball is delivered down channel 2. To prevent the back row forwards using the other training apparatus from seeing the position of the ball delivery chute, the rugby scrum simulation device preferably includes a sight screen adjacent the other training apparatus.

The rugby scrum simulation device preferably includes a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels. Either the front or rear pair of wheels is preferably steerably mounted so

that the rugby scrum simulation device can be easily steered around the playing field. The wheels are preferably made of soft rubber or similar material and include large ridges to provide additional purchase. A towing bar can be provided and when not in use is preferably stored by retaining means provided on the longitudinal link bar.

To secure the rugby scrum simulation device to the playing field during use, it preferably includes a plurality of mountings having eyelets for receiving a plurality of pegs. The pegs are passed through the eyelets which are positioned such that the pegs enter the playing field at 45 . This prevents the rugby scrum simulation device from moving along the playing field and from being lifted off the playing field.

DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a proper eight-man scrum ; Figure 2 is a side view of a proper eight-man scrum ; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a training apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rugby scrum simulation device in accordance with the present invention and incorporating the training apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view of the rugby scrum simulation device of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-section view along line A-A of the rugby scrum simulation device of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the rugby scrum simulation device of Figure 5 showing the rotatable mounting; and Figure 8 is an exploded view showing the first disc, second disc and nylon friction plate of the rotatable mounting of Figure 7.

Figure 3 shows a training apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The training apparatus I has a transverse bar 2 and a Y-shaped bar 4. A left-hand scrum pad 6 is attached to the left end of the transverse bar 2 and a right-hand scrum pad 8 is attached

to the left end of the transverse bar 2. A central pair of scrum pads 10 are attached to the two ends of the Y-shaped bar 4. The back row forwards of the left-side flanker (number (6) ), right-side flanker (number (7) ) and the no. 8 (number (8) ) are shown in their respective positions in the proper eight-man scrum. The relative positions, in the proper eight-man scrum, of the front row forwards of the loose-head prop (number (1)), the hooker (number (2) ), the tighthead prop (number (3) ) and the two locks (numbers (4) and (5)) (5) )are also shown ghosted.

It will be readily appreciated with reference to Figure 3 that the left-hand scrum pad 6 takes the place of the loose-head prop, the right-hand scrum pad takes the place of the tight-head prop and the central pair of serum pads supports take the place of the two locks. In this way the back row forwards can practice and train without the front five forwards having to be present.

The training apparatus may be mounted on any roller platform, sled platform or fixed platform (not shown) in the same way as a conventional scrum machine. However, the training apparatus is preferably used as part of a rugby scrum simulation device.

With reference to Figures 4 to 8 a rugby scrum simulation device 20 according to the present invention has a pair of oppositely facing training apparatuses 1 and 1'. The pair of training apparatuses 1 and I'are joined together by a longitudinal link bar 22 which extends between the centre of the two transverse bars 4 and 4'and by a pair of longitudinal support bars 24 and 26 which extend between the ends of the transverse bars 4 and 4'.

A central column 28 is welded to a base 30 having a pair of front and rear wheels 32 and 34. To prevent injury, padded boards 36 and 38 are attached to the longitudinal support bars 24 and 26. The padded boards 36 and 38 extend the full width and height of the rugby scrum simulation device. Although not shown in Figures 4 to 6, the padded boards 36 and 38 should also extend over the front and rear wheels 32 and 34.

Four pegs 40 are provided next to the front and rear wheels 32 and 34 to secure the rugby scrum simulation device 20 to the playing field (PF). The 450 angle of the pegs

40 prevents the rugby scrum simulation device 20 from moving along the playing field and from being lifted off the playing field. A ball delivery chute 42 is provided on the base 30 next to one of the training apparatuses 1'. The ball delivery chute 42 is shown in a first position where a ball (not shown) would be delivered down channel 1. The ball delivery chute 42 can be moved to a second position (not shown) where the ball would be delivered down channel 2. A sight screen 44 is attached to the transverse bar 4 of the other training apparatus 1 to prevent the front row forwards using the training apparatus I from seeing the position of the ball delivery chute 42.

The longitudinal link bar 22 is attached to the central column 28 by means of a rotatable mounting 50. A detailed description of the rotatable mounting 50 will now be given with reference to Figure 7 and 8.

The central column 28 has an outer tube 52 and an inner tube 54. The lower end of the outer tube 52 is welded to the base 30 and the upper end of the outer tube 52 is welded to a first disc 56. The first disc 56 has a pair of arcuate slots 58. It will be readily appreciated that the number of slots is not limited to two but can be one or three, for example. The upper end of the inner tube 54 is welded to a second disc 60 and to the longitudinal link bar 22. The second disc has a pair of holes 62 at a radius corresponding to the radius of the pair of arcuate slots 58. Two clamping screws 64 are passed through the holes 62 in the second disc 60 and the arcuate slots 58 in the first disc 56. The length of the arcuate slots 58 is chosen so as to limit the rotation of the longitudinal link bar 22 on the central column 28 to 60 . A nylon friction plate 66 is sandwiched between the first and second discs 56 and 60 and the resistance to rotation between the two discs 56 and 60 can be increased by tightening the clamping screws 64 and decreased by slackening the clamping screws 64. The clamping screws 64 can be tightened and slackened using a purpose made tool 68.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A training apparatus for back row forwards of a rugby team comprising : a left-hand scrum pad for supporting a shoulder of a first back row forward; a right-hand scrum pad for supporting a shoulder of a second back row forward; and a central pair of serum pads for supporting both shoulders of a third back row forward; wherein the central pair of serum pads are displaced rearward of the left-hand and right-hand scrum pads.
2. A training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the left-hand and right-hand scrum pads are mounted on a transverse bar and the central pair of scrum pads are mounted on a longitudinally extending Y-shaped bar, the single end of which is attached to a central portion of the transverse bar.
3. A training apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transverse bar and the Yshaped bar are covered in padding.
4. A rugby scrum simulation device for back row forwards of two rugby teams comprising a base on which a pair of oppositely facing training apparatuses according to claim 2 or claim 3 are mounted.
5. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 4, wherein the pair of training apparatuses are joined by a longitudinal link bar which extends between a central portion of the two transverse bars.
6. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 5, wherein the base further comprises a central column to which the longitudinal link bar is rotatably mounted.
7. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 6, wherein the central column further comprises an inner tube, the upper end of which is fixedly attached to

the longitudinal link bar and an outer tube, the lower end of which is fixedly attached to the base.
8. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal link bar is rotatably mounted on the central column by means of a friction assembly comprising a first disc fixedly attached to the upper end of the inner tube, a second disc fixedly attached to the upper end of the outer tube and a friction plate held in frictional contact between the first and second discs, one of the discs having a hole for receiving a clamping screw and the other of the discs having a corresponding arcuate slot through which the clamping screw passes, the length of the arcuate slot being chosen so as to limit the rotation of the longitudinal link bar on the central column to a predetermined angle.
9. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined angle is between 30 and 90 .
10. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the predetermined angle is between 50 and 70 .
11. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any of claims 4 to 10, further comprising a longitudinal support bar on either side of the longitudinal link bar and which extends between the end portions of the two transverse bars.
12. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 11, further comprising a padded board attached to each of the longitudinal support bars and extending the full length and height of the device.
13. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any of claims 4 to 12, further comprising a ball delivery chute adjacent one of the training apparatuses and moveable between a first position where the ball is delivered down channel I and a second position where the ball is delivered down channel 2.
14. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 13, further comprising a sight screen adjacent the other of the training apparatuses to prevent the position of the ball delivery chute from being seen by back row forwards using the other of the training tD apparatuses.
15. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any of claims 4 to 14, wherein the base further comprises a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, one of which is steerably mounted.
16. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any of claims 4 to 15, wherein the base further comprises a plurality of mountings having eyelets for receiving a plurality of securing pegs at a 450 angle.
17. A rugby scrum simulation device for back row forwards of two rugby teams substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 to 8.

17. A training apparatus for back row forwards of a rugby team substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3.

18. A rugby scrum simulation device for back row forwards of two rugby teams substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 to 8

Amended claims have been filed as follows 1. A rugby scrum simulation device for back row forwards of two rugby teams comprising a pair of oppositely facing training apparatuses, each training apparatus including: a left-hand scrum pad for supporting a shoulder of a first back row forward; a right-hand scrum pad for supporting a shoulder of a second back row forward; and a central pair of scrum pads for supporting both shoulders-off a third back row forward; wherein the central pair of scrum pads are displaced rearward of the left-hand and right-hand scrum pads.

2. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 1, wherein the left-hand and right-hand scrum pads are mounted on a transverse bar and the central pair of scrum pads are mounted on a longitudinally extending Y-shaped bar, the single end of which is attached to a central portion of the transverse bar.

3. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 2, wherein the pair of training apparatuses are joined by a longitudinal link bar which extends between a central portion of the two transverse bars.

4. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 3, further comprising a base on which the pair of oppositely facing training apparatuses are mounted.

5. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 4, wherein the base further comprises a central column to which the longitudinal link bar is rotatably mounted.

6. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 5, wherein the central column further comprises an inner tube, the upper end of which is fixedly attached to the longitudinal link bar and an outer tube, the lower end of which is fixedly attached to the base.

7. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 6, wherein the longitudinal link bar is rotatably mounted on the central column by means of a friction assembly comprising a first disc fixedly attached to the upper end of the inner tube, a second disc fixedly attached to the upper end of the outer tube and a friction plate held in frictional contact between the first and second discs, one of the discs having a hole for receiving a clamping screw and the other of the discs having a corresponding arcuate slot through which the clamping screw passes, the length of the arcuate slot being chosen so as to limit the rotation of the longitudinal link bar on the central column-to a predetermined angle.

8. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined angle is between 30 and 90 .

9. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the predetermined angle is between 50 and 700.

10. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any of claims 3 to 9, further comprising a longitudinal support bar on either side of the longitudinal link bar and which extends between the end portions of the two transverse bars.

11. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 10, further comprising a padded board attached to each of the longitudinal support bars and extending the full length and height of the device.

12. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any of claims 2 to 11, wherein the transverse bar and the Y-shaped bar are covered in padding.

13. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a ball delivery chute adjacent one of the training apparatuses and moveable between a first position where the ball is delivered down channel 1 and a second position where the ball is delivered down channel 2.

14. A rugby scrum simulation device according to claim 13, further comprising a sight screen adjacent the other of the training apparatuses to prevent the position of the ball delivery chute from being seen by back row forwards using the other of the training apparatuses.

15. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any of claims 4 to 14, wherein the base further comprises a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, one of which is steerably mounted.

16. A rugby scrum simulation device according to any of claims 4 to 15, wherein the base further comprises a plurality of mountings having eyelets for receiving a plurality of securing pegs at a 450 angle.