Once every year or two most rugby players need to replace their tattered, worn old rugby boots with a new pair. The choice on the market and the technology inside rugby boots is ever increasing so how would anyone know which pair of boots to buy?
Rugby players should choose rugby boots that primarily: fit comfortably, provide support in the appropriate places, are sturdy enough for the positional demands, are appropriate for the playing surface to be used on, and also fit the budget of the buyer.
Intertwined with those factors are personal preference, brand loyalty, number of studs preferred, boot weight, boot width, boot material, weather games are likely to be played in (soft v firm ground) and how the boot fastens up.
These can all add up to make the buying decision more confusing than it need to be. So, here, based on my thirty years worth of boot buying experience is my guide to buying rugby boots.
Decipher Your Preferred Rugby Boot Brand
Personally, I only ever buy rugby boots made by Gilbert, Canterbury or Adidas. The reason being is that Gilbert and Canterbury make boots specifically for rugby and have done for decades.
They are by far the most reputable boots on the market and can be relied on not to fall apart or live up to the demands of rugby easily.
I also include Adidas rugby boots in this bracket due to their long standing relationship with the New Zealand All Blacks and the fact that two of the greatest players in the world ever, Dan Carter and Richie McCaw wore Adidas boots.
So, save yourself the confusion and just go with Canterbury, Gilbert, or Adidas.
Rugby Boots for Backs or Forwards (Differences Explained)
In rugby, the demands placed on a player’s boots are very different depending on whether you play in the forwards (the scrum, numbers 1-8), or in the backs (number 9-15).
Typically, a rugby forwards boots needs to:
- Be wider to provide greater stability, boot strength and more friction with the turf
- Higher up around the ankles to provide greater support for scrummaging
- Have less flexibility when bending the boot lengthways
- Be black and white in colour because forwards are not show ponies!
The above factors mean that forwards boots tend to be heavier than boots of the forwards and this should be seen as a good thing rather than a negative.
Typically, a rugby backs boots need to:
- Be narrower to allow greater agility.
- Fit lower around the ankle to decrease weight and increase flexibility.
- Offer greater flexibility when bending the boot lengthways.
- Have the cut for the laces running down the inner side of the boot to provide a clear surface for kicking the ball with on top.
- Be white or any other fancy colour to give the impression of speed.
These factors mean that boots for backs are generally more lightweight and offer less rigidity overall.
Some would say that back row forwards ought to be wearing a hybrid version of the back/forwards rugby boots as these players have to be among the most mobile on the pitch as well as participate in scrums, rucks and mauls frequently.
This is the reason that you will find many boots that are somewhere between the extremes of a forwards or backs boot. Inside centres may also benefit from a hybrid style boot for similar reasons.
So, you are basically looking for heavier boots that come up higher around the ankles and are slightly wider and more rigid for forwards boots and conversely backs boots will be lighter, more flexible, cut lower below the ankle and be slightly narrower.
before you buy check out: Rugby Boot Rules Made Simple!
Rugby Boots for Soft Grounds
If you are playing in the northern hemisphere throughout the winter then you are most likely going to want a boot that has eight studs in it.
The reason being that eight studs as opposed to six studs will allow you much better grip and stability in wet and muddy conditions.
You can also opt to use longer studs on soft ground the minimum length being 15 mm which would be my choice for softer grounds.
Rugby Boots for Firm Grounds
Conversely if you are playing on hard grounds perhaps in preseason in the UK or in the southern hemisphere on a dust bowl then six studs is preferrable.
The reason being that too many studs can cause a little too much friction and prevent you gliding over the surface on each step and make side stepping a little too cumbersome..
The last thing a back wants to be doing is digging their boots into the ground with eight studs whilst running at speed over the ground.
A front row forward might not be so bothered about using eight studs on firm ground though.
You should also consider fitting longer studs of the 21 mm variety when playing on soft/wet pitches.
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Rugby Boots for Artificial Grounds G4
This is my least favourite type of ground to play on due to the increased injury risk but their usage is likely to increase due to the benefits of improved drainage, ease of maintenance and the fact that they can be used by other sports as well.
I recommend wearing moulded stud boots if you are likely to be playing most of your rugby on artificial pitches. The fit of these boots is more slipper-like and the length of the studs is much shallower allowing a much more player friendly feel on these pitch types.
I would strongly advise against playing on artificial surfaces in traditional forwards boots with longer studs. The possibility of turning your ankle, or getting a foot stuck on the surface which offers little give in comparison to grass is greatly heightened.
If you buy a pair of moulded boots then these will also be suitable for former grounds outdoors during preseason and the end of the season in the UK.
Rugby Boots for Kickers
For optimal performance goal kickers and other players that kick regularly, i.e. fullbacks, fly halves, scrum halves and perhaps centres, choosing boots with kicking in mind is essential.
It is recommended that you select boot wear with the laces run down the inner side of the boot thus allowing a full clear surface where the contact spot between boot and ball will be. This will help allow a clear, clean strike of the ball.
Personal Recommendations
In an ideal world you would be able to buy a set of rugby boots for each type of ground that you regularly play on.
The reality is that most people will not want to do that, so I suggest buying a set of boots that most frequently meets your needs and then simply altering the stud length to fit the ground conditions on a game by game basis.
Personally, when I played in the backs I wore a six studded boot with longer 21 mm studs on the heel and midsole and shorter studs on the front. I found this gave me optimum grip but still enabled me to get the foot agility I required.
I then reduced the stud length to 15 mm all around on the boot for playing on harder pitches. For artificial pitches I just about managed to get away with this combination as well but many of my friends bought lighter moulded boots as we used a G4 pitch for training at times and studs can create a bit too much traction on such surfaces.
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