Pre-Season and Back-to-School: What Every Rugby Player Needs
The summer is nearly over, the whistle is about to blow, and a new season is on the horizon. Whether you are heading back to school rugby, stepping up to a new age group, or lacing up for your first club session, pre-season is the moment to get your kit sorted. Get it right now and you will train harder, play sharper, and turn up on day one ready for anything. Here is every pre-season and back-to-school essential every rugby player needs.
1. Boots That Are Ready for Kick-Off
Your boots are your foundation — the first thing to hit the ground and the last thing you want letting you down. Growing feet and worn-out studs are the two biggest catch-outs at the start of a season, so check the fit before the first session, not after.
For younger players, our junior boots range is built to keep pace with quick-developing feet, while seniors chasing grip and speed will find plenty across the full boots collection. Not sure where to start? Our boots buyers guide breaks down studs, outsoles and fit by position.
2. A Ball to Train With
Skills are built in the weeks before the season, not during it. Every player should have a ball in their bag for passing drills, kicking practice and a bit of handling on the walk to training. Our training balls are made to take a battering session after session, so they are ideal for schools, clubs and back-garden practice alike. Match the size to the age group and you are good to go.
3. Protection You Can Trust
Contact is coming, so protection is non-negotiable. A well-fitted headguard adds confidence in the tackle and the collision, and our range covers every age and level. Pair it with a mouthguard — the cheapest bit of protection in the game, and one no player should train or play without. Buying for a growing player? Our headguard guide helps you get the fit spot on.
4. Kit That Works as Hard as You Do
Pre-season means early starts, muddy pitches and every kind of weather. Lightweight, breathable training kit and warm base layers keep you focused on the session, not the cold or heat. Our clothing range has everything from tops and shorts to hoodies and waterproofs.
5. Bag It All Up
None of it is much use scattered across the hallway on a Saturday morning. A solid kit bag keeps boots, balls and protection together and ready to grab. Our bags and accessories include club rucksacks, holdalls and boot bags to keep everything in one place — plus the small stuff that is easy to forget, like studs, laces, a pump and a water bottle.
6. Get the Sizing Right
The one job worth doing before the first session: check everything still fits. Feet grow over summer, last year's shirt might be snug, and the wrong-size boot can cause more problems than a missed tackle. Our size guides take the guesswork out, so every player starts the season in kit that fits.
Ready for the Season
Do the work now and day one feels easy. Kit sorted, boots broken in, ball in the bag — that is how you start a season on the front foot. Explore the full range at Gilbert Rugby and get everything a rugby player needs for pre-season and back to school in one place.
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