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Glossary
Rugby Equipment terms, explained
Short, plain definitions of the words you'll see on product pages and spec sheets. Each one links to a guide when there's more to know.
3
- 3G pitch
- A third-generation artificial pitch with rubber infill. Read the guide →
A
- Activate
- World Rugby's exercise programme for rugby training sessions and pre-match warm-ups; its setup uses cones to mark exercise areas. Read the guide →
- AG boots
- Artificial-grass boots with many short studs for 3G pitches. Read the guide →
- Age-grade rugby
- Rugby participation organized under age-specific rules set by a governing union or competition. Read the guide →
B
- Ball bag
- A rugby carrier designed to transport several balls for a team. Read the guide →
- Ball pressure gauge
- A tool that displays a rugby ball pressure reading for comparison with its maker's recommended value. Read the guide →
- Body padding
- Torso clothing with padded areas that must meet World Rugby match specifications. Read the guide →
- Boil-and-bite
- A mouthguard softened in hot water and molded to the teeth. Read the guide →
C
- Compression fit
- A rugby shirt cut described by its maker as skin-tight. Read the guide →
- Cool-down
- A post-activity routine World Rugby describes in phases including gentle exercise, stretching and refuelling. Read the guide →
- Cotton-blend long tights
- A clothing item Law 4 permits under shorts and socks when it has a single inside leg seam. Read the guide →
G
- Goalpost padding
- Protective padding fitted around rugby goalposts under the applicable pitch and competition guidance. Read the guide →
- Grip socks
- Rugby socks with grip elements such as silicone dots; exact features vary by maker and model. Read the guide →
H
- Headguard fit
- A snug fit checked against the exact model's head measurement chart and closure instructions. Read the guide →
K
- Kicking tee
- A support permitted by World Rugby Law 8 for a place-kick. Read the guide →
- Kit proof
- A supplier visual of a proposed team-kit design and its placement details for approval. Read the guide →
L
- Lineout lifter
- A training aid made for lineout-lifting drills; Law 18 still governs actions during a match. Read the guide →
M
- Match ball
- A rugby ball selected for match use after checking its size and specification against the competition rules. Read the guide →
- Match official kit
- The whistle, timing, record-keeping and role-specific signaling equipment used by a rugby match official. Read the guide →
- Mini rugby
- Youth rugby played under the age-grade and format rules set by the governing union. Read the guide →
- Multi-Matrix grip
- Gilbert's name for the surface pattern it identifies on its Sirius and Kinetica match balls. Read the guide →
O
- Outer layer
- The cold-weather clothing layer World Rugby describes as repelling wind and rain; its use depends on activity and conditions. Read the guide →
P
- Player monitoring device
- A player-worn device that records live or recorded data about movement or another aspect of performance. Read the guide →
- Pump needle adaptor
- An inflation accessory Gilbert says is needed with a pump to prepare a rugby ball. Read the guide →
R
- Regulation 12
- World Rugby's rules on what players may wear. Read the guide →
- Ruck pad
- A pad used to practice clearing out at the breakdown. Read the guide →
S
- Scrum cap
- A soft headguard that protects ears and scalp; it does not prevent concussion. Read the guide →
- Scrum sled
- A ground-supported resistance device used for scrum training. Read the guide →
- SG boots
- Soft-ground boots with screw-in studs for wet grass. Read the guide →
- Six-touch rule
- In touch rugby, the attacking team has six touches before turnover. Read the guide →
- Size 5
- The full-size rugby ball used by adults and older teens. Read the guide →
- Soft-ground boots
- Rugby boots described for softer or wet playing surfaces. Read the guide →
- Standard pimple grip
- Gilbert's description for the pimple-pattern surface used on specific match balls. Read the guide →
T
- Tackle shield
- A handheld pad used to absorb contact in training. Read the guide →
- Tag belt
- A belt with two tags pulled off to stop a ball carrier in tag rugby. Read the guide →
- Training age
- A player’s experience with appropriate training, considered alongside chronological age when planning conditioning. Read the guide →
- Training ball
- A rugby ball marketed for practice; check the exact model, assigned size and surface guidance. Read the guide →
- TRI grip
- Gilbert's term for the triangular surface pattern it identifies on the G-TR 4000 training ball. Read the guide →
V
- Vaposhield
- Canterbury's name for a water-repellent finish used on some rugby jackets. Read the guide →
W
- Washable support
- A support made from elasticated or compressible material that World Rugby Law 4 permits. Read the guide →
- Women-specific size chart
- A maker's measurement table for its women's apparel; measurements and size labels apply to that brand and product range. Read the guide →