What and where to get your rugby supplies in Canada
Mouth guards
Mouth guards are required for all players in contact training & games.
Mouth guards can be purchased from all leading sport equipment shops (Sports Chek, Canadian Tire, etc..) and generally cost between $5 to $50. You can buy hockey or football ones with the straps on them, just remember to cut the strap off once you have fitted it. If you wear braces be sure to get a mouth guard that is designed to be worn with braces. While the mouth guards from the above retailers are good, we recommend that for the best protection you get a fitted mouth guard from your dentist or specialist. Mouth guards last approximately one year in a youth. Water Bottles
It is important during any sport to stay hydrated. Especially during the hot summer training & games.
It matters not what your water bottle looks like, just that you have one and it has lots of water in it. We recommend that during the summer your child has at least 1 litre of water with them, as we will be taking regular quick breaks in order to keep your children hydrated. Goggles
If your child needs to wear glasses, or has chronic eye conditions, that's ok, they can play rugby with an approved pair of goggles.
The goggles must conform to World Rugby Guidelines, and have the World Rugby (or iRB if old) approval mark upon them. Currently they are provided through one overseas supplier (as it's a trial). You can get them by registering for a World Rugby Passport (It's an account that links all World Rugby Sites) and getting a code to a discounted purchase. Here is the link. Just follow the instructions to get your pair of goggles |
Rugby Boots
As rugby is a summer/fall sport in Canada, there is little need for boots with a full set of screw in cleats/studs. These are generally no good for the hard playing surfaces, or for the turn fields that the kids play on.
We recommend that you buy molded cleat/stud boots, as these are very good on all but the wettest of pitches. At this age it matters not if the boot is designed for soccer or some other sport, or how colourful it is, the most important fact is that your child is comfortable wearing them. Specific positions as your child gets older will need more specific boots, i.e. the front row will require boots with six front cleats/studs as shown in the picture in order to have extra grip in the scrum, ground permitting. The boots needed at this age can be purchased from any sports retailer such as Sports Chek, or Canadian Tire. Leggings & under shirts
Leggings are technically banned in rugby. However, in Canada, a blind eye is generally turned when it comes to children, or when playing on field turf or very hard ground.
It is recommended that your child keeps a pair of leggings in their kit bag for when they have games on field turf. Field turf can sometimes be quite itchy and can cause small burns or scrapes on the skin. Leggings are the best way to avoid this. An alternative to leggings, which are legal in rugby is undershorts, a pair of tight fitting shorts that can assist in protecting your child's modesty, as rugby shorts can be quite open. Under shirts (also called base layers) are also available and are a good way to keep cool in hot games. They work by absorbing the heat your body develops to reduce sweating, hence keeping the wearer hydrated. They are also perfectly legal in rugby. These garments can be purchased at all sports stores, and start from around $25 a piece. |
Head protection
Scrum caps are optional in junior rugby, but as a club we recommend them.
Concussion is a risk in all contact sports, and rugby is no different. In addition to effectively reducing the amount of superficial scalp and facial injuries, the scrum cap may assist in reducing the chance of getting a concussion through a head clash, though as there are many ways to sustain a concussion no protection will eliminate the risk. Scrum caps are harder to come across in Toronto but we have found a few places that stock them. They are: There are numerous different styles and colours, once again the most important factors to consider are that it is comfortable and it doesn't impede your child's vision. It will take a few games/training sessions for it to feel fully comfortable. All Head protection must have the World Rugby approval on it. Body/Chest protection
Just as with head protection, body protection is optional. Body protection (also called body armour) is worn under the playing shirt.
The protection provides a small amount of padding to the wearers shoulders and chest, reducing the chance of painful collisions. There are many different styles & prices, but the main importance here is that your child is comfortable wearing it. As with all protection, it takes time to get used to wearing it, so a little perseverance may be required. These can be purchased at the same online stores as the head protection above. All body protection must have the World Rugby approval on it. |