FLA Fitness The Fitness of the Rugby Greats

Chris Ashton’s style might lack any kind of uniqueness but it is obvious that the English team’s head coach Stuart Lancaster will ask for more from the winger in the international competition in the autumn.

Ashton is in a brilliant form this season, hence, he will make it to the Elite player club to be announced on October 22. But whether or not he will be able to keep the number 14 jersey for the following tests  will be determined by his delivering a ”point of difference” as Lancaster calls it.

Regarding his performance, Ashton, to the surprise of many, admitted that he just runs after the ball like a dog and he doesn’t work on his sprinting with anyone.

He also said that he cannot run to the best of his ability in the speed tests because he feels tensed, but he does better than that in the field.

Ashton said that he cannot spend time with Sprint experts because he cannot find some extra time to work on it though he said that some people told him that they could help him with the sprint if he manages to spend some time with them. But his regular rugby sessions take up so much time the he is left with neither the time nor the energy for doing some extra training for sprint.

Strettle is another player with whom Ashton forms a rapid wing attacking threat. Strettle is also trying his best to make it to the EPS. Ashton has said that if he competed with Strettle on a foot race then Strettle is sure to win, but when it comes to chasing a ball for a try then he would be the one who could do it.

Being at the best position in the upcoming England Vs Sarries Premiership is Ashton’s number one priority, according to him, his prime focus is on performing to stay at the top in this premiership, it is what he strongly desires.

Rugby Sevens, a type of rugby union game where each consists of seven players instead of the usual fifteen and the matches are shorter in length. The International Rugby Board governs the Rugby Sevens and its foundation was laid in Melrose where each year the Melrose Tournament is held. The game has been very popular at different levels and both amateur and club tournaments are organized during the summer months.

The rules of this game are different from that of a traditional rugby game. The number of player in each team is seven and each team is just allowed five substitutes with five interchanges. The length of the game is shortened to just seven minute halves and only ten minute halves are allowed for the final of the competition. Duration between the two halves has also been dropped to just one minute and only two minutes during the final.

In Rugby Sevens, drawn matches are continued into extra time in multiple of 5minutes periods. All conversions in this game should be taken within 40 seconds of scoring a try and those attempts should be drop-kicked. In sevens, the scoring team kicks off rather than the conceding team and yellow cards shown to a player gives him 2-minute suspension. All these changes are made to the game to speed it up keeping in mind the reduced number of players.

It is one of the most well distributed and popular form of rugby in different parts of the world, mostly famous in Africa, Asia and in the South Pacific. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to include the game in Olympics. Rugby Sevens will make its debut as an Olympic sport at the 2016 Summer Olympics at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is also included in international competitions such as IRB Sevens World Series and the Rugby World Cup Sevens. The game is also played at multisport events like the Commonwealth Games.

The build up to the new season of the Aviva Premiership is getting hotter each day with all the teams trying to make most of the transfer window in the very beginning of their campaign. This is no different for the last year semi-finalists London Wasps. The most significant signing for the club has been undoubtedly the Worcester Warriors star Ed Shervington. The veteran for the warriors put up a good performance in spite of his side’s elimination form the main draw and was thereby duly rewarded in the transfer season. The club has also renewed the contract with fellow hooker Tom Lindsay who has made his presence felt in about hundred matches for the Wasps, impressing the coaching staff and fans alike.

The Director of the club Dai Young has also been instrumental for signing his own son Thomas Young for his side. The 21 year old flanker had previously been involved with Gloucester making three appearances for his side. Buster Lawrence and Will Rolans were the other 22 year old young guns who were added to the ranks of the team. Although these players might have to wait for their chances in the big stage yet the club has pinned its hope on their agility and aggressive approach to the game. The only player to be released recently from the club was their fly half Joe Carlisle. He would be facing competition for his number 10 jerseys from Andy Goode, Ruaridh Jackson and Alex Lozowski who have joined the club recently. Wales International prop John Yapp was also signed by the Wasps from Edinburgh. Dai Young clearly mentioned that they were banking on the former Cardiff Blue star due to his massive experience in the Premiership. The team now seems to be complete and competent enough for a major title in the upcoming season.