Expert Advice on Picking Your Pads:
Having been a pro rugby player for 10 years now I feel I’ve a great understanding of shoulder pads and what most guys want from their trusted ‘bosh suits’. To help you decide which shoulder pads to buy, here are some things to consider when laying your cash on the line….. not to mention your body!!

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Player Position:
I never like wearing really big bulky pads when I play because I’m a winger and I like the thought of being agile and fast. So I’d look for pads without all the side protection and go for a basic tight fitting shoulder pad with minimum amount of padding. However, if I was playing at seven and taking hits from all angles in rucks I’d maybe go for something a bit more substantial like the Kooga Dominator Vest.

Usage:
Whether playing or training there’s always going to be a need for pads at some point. I’ll come on to costs later but in an ideal world I’d suggest padding yourself to the max when training and using something suitable for your position when playing. I’ve lost count of how many dead legs, bumps and bruises and stingers I’ve endured during training and these days I simply use what’s got the most padding and protection.

Costs:
I’m afraid the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ runs true here. By spending a bit more you get better materials and I usually find a better fitting shoulder pad. To save a bit try and buy out of season, but be careful some of the really cheap stuff might not be IRB approved.

IRB Approved:
It’s always best to buy IRB approved as this means that they meet the International Rugby Board safety standard. All of the KooGa Rugby pads mentioned on this site are IRB approved.