Imagine Rugby - Blog RSS (Info) http://www.imaginerugby.com/ An RSS feed of blogs from Imagine Rugby. en-gb info@imaginesportsclub.com info@imaginesportsclub.com <![CDATA[Legends of the Game: Jonny Wilkinson]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/legends-of-the-game-jonny-wilkinson-1833.htm Since 2003, one man has been referred to as ‘World Cup Hero’ on so many occasions that you could almost be forgiven for thinking that was his actual name. An extraordinary talent and one of the most instantly recognisable faces in the game of rugby union, Jonny Wilkinson is this week’s legend.

When Wilkinson signed for the Newcastle Falcons at the tender age of 18 and having jus...

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]]> Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:23:43 +0100 <![CDATA[Legends of the Game: Jason Robinson]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/legends-of-the-game-jason-robinson-1801.htm One of the 2003 World Cup winners, Jason Robinson is one of the most successful players to have made the move from rugby league to rugby union, establishing himself as one of the greatest backs of all time in the England squad, striking fear into every opponent he ran at.

In total, Robinson made 51 caps for England, scoring 140 points, and made 5 appearances for the...

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]]> Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:33:14 +0100 <![CDATA[Legends of the Game: Michael Lynagh]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/legends-of-the-game-michael-lynagh-1784.htm In an international career spanning eleven years, Michael Lynagh racked up 72 appearances for his country and became one of the greatest players to have ever played the game, and not just in Australia, his talents were recognised across the rugby playing world.

Lynagh began playing at school, where he represented St Joseph’s College in Brisbane between 1979 and 1981, captaining the side in his final year, before moving on to a 13-year professional career with Queensland.
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]]> Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:20:10 +0100 <![CDATA[Legends of the Game: Jonah Lomu]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/legends-of-the-game-jonah-lomu-1734.htm One of the greatest names – and most feared – in the game of rugby – is this week’s legend feature, as we take a look at arguably the best winger ever to have played the game. Dubbed as one of the first superstars of rugby, he is also one of the most intimidating players to have ever crossed the touchline.

Jonah Tali Lomu was born on 12th May 1975 and made 212 appearances for club and country, scoring 160 tries, making him one of the most prolific players of all time.

H...

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]]> Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:58:49 +0100 <![CDATA[Legends of the Game: Martin Johnson]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/legends-of-the-game-martin-johnson-1711.htm The next in our legends series is a World Cup winning captain that dominated the game, both physically and in terms of his sheer size, and has now gone on to lead the England national team. This week’s legend is Martin Johnson, the former Leicester Tigers and England lock.

In a career spanning between 1989 and 2005, Johnson made 347 appearances for Leicester, scoring a total of 40 points in the process, and w...

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]]> Wed, 06 Jul 2011 09:40:48 +0100 <![CDATA[Controlling Your Aggression ]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/controlling-your-aggression--1705.htm Aggression is a key part of rugby, as it is in a number of other contact sports, but being aggressive isn’t a good thing, unless you can control it. If you cannot control your aggression, then you will find that the majority of your players will find themselves occupying the sin bin on a regular basis, or sent off.

One of the most successful teams to play a controlled, aggressive style of rugby in the last decade, and more, is New Zeala...

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]]> Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:33:35 +0100 <![CDATA[Coaching Tips: Scrummaging]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/coaching-tips-scrummaging-1680.htm Many games can be won or lost in the scrum, and which team manages to keep their discipline and drive on. For that reason, it is essential that teams work on their scrummaging, and in real situations. Here are some ideas for you to incorporate into your training sessions that will, hopefully, enable you to improve how you, and your team, perform in a scrum.

Make sure all players are involved. There is...

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]]> Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:10:45 +0100 <![CDATA[Legends of the Game: Gareth Edwards]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/legends-of-the-game-gareth-edwards-1671.htm Considered by many as one of the best scrum halves to have ever played the game of rugby, Gareth Edwards is the latest of our legends features on Imagine Rugby. His pace and power made him one of the best around in his position, and these traits, coupled with the sheer desire to win, made him a true great in Wales, and around the world.

In a vote conducted by Rugby World magazine in 2003, he was voted the best player of all time.

He played his first game for Wales in 1967,...

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]]> Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:39:45 +0100 <![CDATA[Improving Your Decision Making]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/improving-your-decision-making-1659.htm If you ask coaches which team will win in a scrappy match, the majority will probably tell you that it is the team that wins the most turnover balls. However, you can win as many balls as you like, but if you don’t use that ball, it’s irrelevant. What coaches should be telling a player is that it is the team that uses the turnover ball most effectively who will win scrappy matches.

There are a couple of training exercises that can help players make the right decision on whether to ...

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]]> Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:04:19 +0100 <![CDATA[Legends of the Game: David Campese]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/legends-of-the-game-david-campese-1639.htm In a career that spanned 14 years, Australian David Campese made 101 Test appearances for the Wallabies, scoring 64 tries, and earning the appreciation of players and fans from around the world for his performances on the field.

‘Campo’ began his career at his local side, Queanbeyan Whites, and his skills were recognised almost immediately by Bob Dwyer, who was coach of the Australia side at the time. He was selected to play for the Australia Under 21 side against New Zealand Colts in 19...

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]]> Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:17:10 +0100 <![CDATA[Improving Your Kicking Game]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/improving-your-kicking-game-1632.htm Many people look at kicking in rugby as a negative tactic, just aimed at getting the ball down the field and away from your own try line, but it can be a real skill. Unfortunately, a lot of teams do use the ‘boot it away’ method but that is simply because they don’t have the ball carriers in their side.

Here are some tips that will hopefully help you, or your team, improve how and when you kick the ball.

Kicking can be a method of applying pressure onto the opposition. T...

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]]> Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:21:31 +0100 <![CDATA[Legends of the Game: Zinzan Brooke]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/legends-of-the-game-zinzan-brooke-1613.htm Zinzan Brooke made his name as one of the most skilful players of his generation, possibly one of the best the game of Rugby Union has ever seen.

Born Murray Zinzan Brooke, he made a strong impression on the world of rugby while playing for the Colts’ national side as a student at the Mahurangi College.

Brooke was the perfect number 8, combining the build and physical strength of a forward with the mobility, agility and flair of a back, which made him one of the best numbe...

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]]> Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:32:53 +0100 <![CDATA[Fitness tip of the week]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/fitness-tip-of-the-week-555.htm A quick note first - if you are unsure what you’re doing with any exercise, make sure you seek professional advice before starting any programme. Also, make sure you warm up and cool down properly as this will help you to avoid the chances of injury.
To the exercise – the overhead press is the most useful sports specific upper body strength exercise once the raw upper body strength has been developed by the bench press as it utilises the whole upper body to transmit force from the fl...

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]]> Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:26:30 +0100 <![CDATA[The bench press]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/the-bench-press-524.htm To the exercise – the bench press is arguably the best way to develop raw upper body strength. It is not sports specific as you will never be pushing whilst supported on a bench in a match and so should be complemented with the overhead press.
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]]> Sun, 19 Sep 2010 11:08:16 +0100 <![CDATA[Improve your rugby fitness]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/improve-your-rugby-fitness-512.htm To the exercise – the deadlift helps to build strength in the hips and legs, and most importantly the back, which in turn will help for all pulling movements. Remember that learning the correct technique is an extremely important foundation for the pow...

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]]> Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:21:39 +0100 <![CDATA[Weightlifting for rugby fitness - the back squat]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/weightlifting-for-rugby-fitness-the-back-squat-463.htm This week we're going to look at a training technique that will help develop strength of your legs and lower back so when you go out onto the rugby pitch you are in top condition. We're going to focus on weightlifting for rugby fitness, and in particular, the back squat - a simple yet effective training technique.

In rugby, strength is crucial and can take your game onto the next level. The squat is an excellent strength development exercise for the whole body, in particular the legs and...

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]]> Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:37:42 +0100 <![CDATA[Ladder drills to increase your foot speed]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/ladder-drills-to-increase-your-foot-speed-438.htm This week we’re going to look at a training technique that will help develop fast feet and better co-ordination so when you go out onto the rugby pitch you are in top condition. We’re going to focus on ladder drills – a simple yet effective training technique.

In rugby, foot speed in crucial and can take your game onto the next level. Rapid footwork and correct foot placement are crucial factors in many different facets of the game including tackling, passing, rucking and mauling.

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]]> Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:51:09 +0100 <![CDATA[A controversial genius - David Campese]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/a-controversial-genius-david-campese-435.htm Everyone loves an outspoken sportsman, someone who isn't afraid to air their opinion in the public eye and has the ability to back up this quality with class when he steps out into his chosen arena.

And with David Campese, the Australian winger, this is what you got. He was often controversial, and often made mistakes on the pitch, but he was a genius and at times the bad would be forgotten by moments of shear brilliance that left you in awe.

Even his coaches recognised this about...

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]]> Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:24 +0100 <![CDATA[Mastering the drop goal]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/tips-and-techniques/mastering-the-drop-goal-421.htm The drop goal can be one of the most potent weapons in rugby and by mastering it, you put yourself in a position of strength as it gives you an advantage over your opponents and enables you to have another weapon in your arsenal should you need it.

England won the 2003 World Cup with a drop goal from the boot of Jonny Wilkinson and its importance in today’s game cannot be underestimated.

But it’s a more difficult skill to master than perhaps it looks.

So how can you perfect it?...

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]]> Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:48:31 +0100 <![CDATA[The First Global Superstar...]]> http://www.imaginerugby.com/blog/legends/the-first-global-superstar--351.htm

In team sports, it's so difficult to pick out the greatest player of all time so we're going to take a closer look at many of rugby's stars from years gone by over the next few months.

And we're going to start with a powerhouse who terrorised defences - New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu.

Often regarded as the first global superstar of Rugby Union, Lomu was mesmerising to watch, often intimidating opponents and crashing straight through them in a bid to...

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]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:23:06 +0100