- Rugby Toolbox
- Warm Up
- Player Group-Specific Guidance
Player Group-Specific Guidance

Small Blacks (Under 13)
General Goals:
- Build coordination, balance, and body control
- Establish safe play habits (e.g. safe falling, proper contact)
Warm-Up Tips:
- Keep sessions short, fun, and game-based
- Focus on fundamental movement skills
- Emphasise body awareness and safe movement
Youth Players (Teenagers)
General Goals:
- Strengthen movement patterns, balance, and postural control
- Support safe development during growth spurts
Warm-Up Focus:
- Structured progressions for strength and coordination
- Address common vulnerabilities (knees, hips, ankles)
- Emphasise jumping, landing, cutting, and contact technique
- Introduce neck strengthening and activation
Adults
General Goals:
- Prepare for higher game demands
- Maintain or build physical resilience
Warm-Up Focus:
- Improve mobility and activate key muscles
- Gradually build intensity
- Include strength, flexibility, and prehabilitation exercises
- Tailor warm-ups for previous injuries or stiffness
- Prioritise progressive loading
- Add activation for common problem areas (e.g. hamstrings, calves, shoulders, lower back)
Women
General Goals:
- Promote full-body strength, stability, and control
- Reduce injury risk with targeted strategies
Warm-Up Focus:
- Enhance dynamic stability and movement control
- Focus on ACL and concussion risk reduction
- Strengthen knees, hips, trunk, and neck
- Prioritise neck activation (to counter higher head-to-ground impact forces common in female athletes)