You may be the best technical scrummager in a game, but you won’t be effective if are unable to perform after the first few minutes due to fatigue.

Endurance is essential.

A successful rugby team needs players with:
- powerful acceleration
- coordination
- agility
- muscular balance
- sprinting speed
- discipline
- flexibility

Drills for strength training, muscular endurance and speed work are very key.

Here are some fitness tips to help keep you in shape over the winter:

NetFit

Looking for some gear that's as tough as your game?

Canada Rugby Shop

Taking a pounding? Get in shape to play tough.

Human Kinetics

Answers to your burning questions here:

Rugby Canada

Fifteens - the name of the most common game of rugby union featuring fifteen total players per side. Each team consists of 8 forwards and 7 backs playing two halves each 40 minutes long.

Forward Pass - illegal pass to a player ahead of the ball causing the ball to be awarded to the other team in a scrum.

Grubber - a kick of the ball which causes the ball to bounce and roll along the ground.

IRFB - the International Rugby Football Board. The ruling body for Rugby Union worldwide and has primary responsibility for setting and adjusting the laws of the sport and running the Rugby World Cup championships.

Knock On - losing, dropping, or knocking the ball forward from a player's hand resulting in the ball being awarded to the other team in a scrum.

Lineout - the setplay restarting play after the ball has been taken out or kicked to touch. Both sets of forwards line up opposite each other with the side with throw calling a play. The throw must be directly down the middle of the two lines.

Maul - a maul is formed if the ball carrier is held up after a tackle and one player from each side binds onto him and tries to rip the ball away or push him forwards. The primary difference from a ruck is that the ball is not on the ground.

Ruck – a contest for possession.A ruck is set after a runner has come into contact and the ball has been delivered to the ground and any combination of at least three players has bound themselves. The primary difference from a maul is that the ball is on the ground. Most infringements occur in rucks.

Pitch - the field upon which a rugby match is played.

Rugby - a football game in which the ball is kicked or carried forward down a field to score points either by touching the ball down beyond a tryline or kicking the ball through posts. The primary rule governing the game is that no pass to a player forward of the ball is allowed.

Scrum - the formation used in the setplay restarting play after a knock-on or forward pass. The forwards from each side bind together and then the two packs come together to allow the scrumhalf with the feed to deliver the ball to the scrum. A scrum can also be awarded or chosen in different circumstances by the referee.

Try - grounding of the ball with downward pressure behind or on the opposition's goal line. Score is worth 5 points.