Rugby Safety: Do Shin Pads Help and Are They Required?

Do Shin Pads Help in Rugby?

Despite the low use of shin pads, some rugby players do opt for them, especially those who have previously suffered lower leg injuries.

Rugby union involves rucks, scrums, and mauls. During these phases, studs can scrape against players' shins. Shin pads offer a layer of protection against these minor but painful injuries.

While direct kicks to the shins are rare in rugby, accidental knocks can occur. For example, a knee or foot may connect with a player’s shin during a tackle or while players are competing for the ball on the ground. Shin pads can help reduce the impact in these rare cases.

Additionally, some players feel more confident with shin protection. Knowing that the lower leg is covered might provide a psychological advantage, allowing players to focus more on their gameplay rather than worrying about potential injuries.

However, wearing shin pads may come with drawbacks. Some players may believe that shin pads offer more protection than they actually do. In rugby, many injuries are to the upper body and head, so wearing shin pads could distract from addressing higher-risk injury areas.

Shin pads that aren’t made specifically for rugby could introduce hard materials into the game, which might harm other players in tackles or scrums. Only approved materials should be used if players choose to wear shin guards.

Are Shin Pads Required in Rugby Union?

Currently, rugby union does not mandate the use of shin pads. World Rugby, the sport's governing body, has set safety regulations for equipment but leaves the use of shin pads as optional. Here are some key points on the regulations:

World Rugby’s laws permit the use of shin guards as long as they adhere to safety standards. However, they are not compulsory equipment like mouthguards.

For any player who chooses to wear shin pads, the material must meet safety guidelines. The shin pads should not have hard edges that could cause injury to other players in contact situations.

Rugby norms (and sometimes rules within teams) place more emphasis on mouthguards and headgear than on shin pads. These items are considered essential to protect against more common injury risks in rugby, such as head and dental injuries.

James Lowe scores his side's first try//Getty Images

In association football, shin pads are compulsory because lower leg injuries are frequent due to the nature of the game. Football players are frequently kicked in the shins as they fight for control of the ball. In rugby, however, the rules focus on protecting the player with the ball from high-impact or low, dangerous tackles.

Rugby players are more likely to suffer from upper body injuries, concussions, and bruising around the torso and thighs rather than the lower legs. As a result, rugby safety regulations do not prioritise shin protection in the same way.

Much like rugby union, rugby league has relatively few players wearing shin pads and it is also highly unlikely one will find them in the fast-paced rugby sevens, which prioritises running rugby instead of heavy physical duels.