Rugby is a physical sport and it is a tough one for sure. But when it comes to gear, it might seem to be a simple sport since there is almost no protective gear worn by players. However, a decent pair of shoes is one thing that you should not cut corners on. You may ask why we say so. Simply, it is because rugby needs a lot of running for a long period of time, and therefore it is obvious that it requires a quality pair of rugby shoes.
Players intend to invest heavily in shoes sometime. But to put it simply, you don’t have to spend a ton of money buying a decent pair of shoes for rugby. It’s not about how pricey the shoes are. It’s just how well you are going to play wearing your best pair of rugby shoes.
Therefore, we have selected the best rugby shoes available in the athletic footwear market for 2021 considering different aspects. Please keep reading to find your best pair!
What Kind of Shoes Should You Wear for Rugby?
A variety of factors will decide the purchase of the best rugby shoes, with the position of the player being a significant one. Hence, this simply means that the position of a player plays a major role when choosing the shoes. Note that there are variations in designs for rugby shoes to match the position of a player as we mention in the following section. Other aspects to consider are the materials, style, sizing and fit, comfort, and value.
Can You Use Football Shoes for Rugby?
Actually, it depends, so we can’t give a clear yes or no. But it is important to know that while there are over 100 shoe types in the world including hiking shoes, hockey shoes, baseball shoes, and winter boots, etc., each and every one of them has a specific purpose and is designed for a particular area. For example, you need specific types of running shoes that suit your purpose, even when it comes to running, such as long-distance running shoes, cushioned shoes, beginners’ running shoes, etc. Similarly, you need a pair of the best rugby shoes to win a rugby game!
Football shoes are made for firm ground play, have shorter studs, and are lightweight, so they do not provide all players with the right form of safety and traction. The wearing of this type of shoes may support kickers and backs. But, if you’re just stepping into the sport and would like to get a feel for it first before investing in a particular pair of rugby shoes, you can always opt for a rugby shoe base model or try a football shoe to see what feels comfortable for your feet.
Best Rugby Shoes for Forwards
When talking about forward players in rugby shoes, they have their own needs. They often want more support for the ankle when in a scrum or a maul. The scrum is a position where feet are continuously stamping around trying to get a good foothold, which can lead to a lot of shoes being stood on, hence it is advisable to have a good pair that is durable. Therefore, one of the key qualities of the best forward rugby shoes is that they are highly durable. Another attribute that shoes for forwards have is 8 studs instead of 6 as they give more traction.
Best Rugby Shoes for Backs
During an 80-minute match, backs will usually cover more ground, while forwards are more concentrated on rucking, mauling, and big hits. Consequently, backs require shoes with certain characteristics that vary from a pair of rugby shoes preferred by forwards. These typically mean lightweight, low-cut, and with fewer studs than the rugby shoes of a forward player. As we all know, backs usually care about kicking. You need a good surface to make contact with in order to obtain continuous contact. To keep the touch area undisturbed, most rugby shoes designed specifically for backs come with offset laces or even concealed laces.
Best Rugby Shoes for Flankers
Usually, players with more energy than the rest should become flankers in the team and they should be able to run really quickly. Flankers are supposed to tackle like a prop and hold like a center and that should be reflected in their rugby shoes. Flankers need a shoe in which a lightweight finish combines traction and grip. Also, these are the players who often cover the greatest distance in the field. They are supposed to call as quickly as possible at their top-end pace. This means that what they do on the field must be reflected in the shoes they wear.
What Are the Best Shoes for Rugby?
A difficult choice to make is to pick a pair of rugby shoes. No worries, we have listed twelve of the best rugby shoes designed by the biggest sports brands such as Adidas, Asics, Nike, Under Armour, Canterbury, and Gilbert. The brands we’ve chosen here really satisfy the factors of an impressive pair of rugby shoes. Moreover, they are world-famous for their quality.
- Adidas Kakari SG Rugby Shoes
- Adidas SS17 Adizero Malice SG Rugby Shoes
- Adidas Men’s Predator Malice SG Rugby Shoes
- Asics Lethal Tackle, Men’s Rugby Shoes
- Asics Men’s GEL-Lethal Speed Rugby Shoes
- Nike Tiempo Legend VII FG Rugby Shoes
- Under Armour CoreSpeed Rugby Shoes
- Under Armour Men’s Force 3.0 Rugby Shoes
- Canterbury Speed 3.0 Pro SG Rugby Shoes
- Canterbury Men’s Soft Ground Rugby Boots
- Gilbert Celera V3 HI 8S Rugby Shoes
- Gilbert Kaizen 3.0 Power SG Rugby Shoes
You must certainly be curious about the features of these rugby shoes after going through this list. Continue to read! Undoubtedly, the following sections will help you clarify your concerns and help you buy the right rugby shoes for yourself. Let’s get started with rugby shoes from Adidas!
Adidas Rugby Shoes
Adidas is known worldwide for its premium quality and is a brand that does not need an introduction. Adidas rugby shoes specifically are one of the best in the range of creativeness and recognition. In fact, they are of high quality and high tech designs for a long time. Adidas rugby shoes were trusted for decades by top rugby players like Beauden Barrett, Mauro Itoje, and Mako Vunipotest. So, maybe Addidas Rugby shoes are what you need to enhance your game.
Adidas Kakari SG
This pair is intended for both forward play and scrummaging. In fact, you can overtake the breakdown with a thinner, sleeker upper and a modern eight stud soleplate than ever before. Also, don’t forget to tighten the studs properly to ensure maximum efficiency and traction.
Key features
- TPU power weld band for lateral motion in the forefoot.
- To help keep your foot safe through aggressive cuts, the shoes feature a TPU plate.
- Provide great grip on the pitch using a 6×2 stud layout.
- Offers synthetic split forefoot leather for comfort.
- The standards and regulations set by World Rugby are followed by these shoes.
Adidas SS17 Adizero Malice SG
The overall shoe style is beautiful and at the same time, it provides comfort, strength and speed. Adizero Malice is perfect for playing on soft ground and it is definitely a top pick for most of the back rugby players.
Key features
- It is made of lightweight materials. (definitely, a reason for the backs to favor this pair!)
- Features an elastic neoprene sock to provide ankle protection as well as a comfortable snug fit.
- It has an asymmetric lacing mechanism for power kicking that gives a greater surface area on the top of the forefoot.
- Eventually, studs are built to prevent the mud from getting trapped, so there would be no problem with speed.
- Features a Sprintframe to help you sprint past the opposite player, keeps the foot nearer to the ground, and provides the whole foot with stability and proportion.
- Dynamic foot positioning is provided by a 10 mm heel raise.
- The Speed Traxion outsole gives you maximum traction for side moves.
Adidas Men’s Predator Malice
Adidas introduces this lightest shoe entirely tailored for back players for better kicks. Meanwhile, all these shoes are made from the very finest materials and of the highest quality. Even though they are quite pricey, you can still use these shoes a lot and they are well worth the expense.
Key features
- Made from the lightest but most durable materials.
- The materials have Kevlar that makes them much more durable than most other designs.
- An asymmetrical lacing system and a combination of metal and composite studs for soft ground make excellent breathability.
Asics Rugby Shoes
Asics is a Japanese multinational company that manufactures sports equipment designed for a wide variety of sports. Their products come with the belief that the most optimal way to build a strong and upbeat way of life is to encourage overall health and well-being. Hence, their shoes are loved and admired immensely. Further, it is also among the best rugby shoe brands in the world when it comes to desirable rugby shoes.
Asics Lethal Tackle, Men’s Rugby Shoes
The Asics Lethal Tackle is a fine pair of shoes for rugby that have several features to help boost your success on the pitch. Above all, these are durable as you can get and are recommended as some of the best forward rugby shoes.
Key features
- They’ll work perfectly well in the scrum, as it is made of the finest abrasion-resistant leather.
- Features a special midsole material for optimal output on the pitch that is lightweight but firm and supple.
- They’re incredibly easy to wear with better cushioning and a reversible sock liner.
- The studs are removable and can be placed in a way that suits you best.
- A 10 mm gap between the heels and the front of the shoes provides the best biomechanical position, improves performance, and reduces the likelihood of injury.
Asics Men’s GEL-Lethal Speed Rugby Shoes
As reported by the majority of reviewers, the Asics Gel Lethal Speed ST offers a lightweight and comfortable design, making it one of the best choices for rugby players. Moreover, you can have this with a remarkably stunning style and three distinct colors.
Key features
- As this is made from synthetic materials it boasts utmost agility and mobility for players. (especially those who run on the field most of the time.)
- The HG10mm heel set-up includes a higher upper height to help minimize lower limb pressure.
- For stability, it has a Propulsion Trusstic System.
- It has an EVA midsole which offers comfort throughout the game.
Nike Rugby Shoes
Nike is a world-famous sporting brand best known for creativity and innovation. It has the ability to provide boots for every scenario, adding elegance and quality to any collection they offer. They also provide their rugby shoes in a variety of designs, colors, and sizes, whatever model you go for. And let’s take a look at the best rugby shoes they’ve got to offer.
Nike Tiempo Legend VII FG
The Nike Tiempo Boot is an all-time top star, even popular among pros like Owen Farrell. This classic came out as VI, V, Elite IV, Legacy, Genio, Natural, Legend III, and Mystic. With exceptional comfort, touch, and feel, they all offer the traction and durability that you need to hit the ball. Even though this pair is somewhat pricey, it’s all worth it considering the features and advantages this pair has to offer.
Key features
- In order to offer comfort and the right fit, this shoe comes with Nike’s iconic Flynit and Flywire cables on the heel and midfoot. It also adds breathability and support for players as well.
- The Nikegrip technology helps prevent the foot from slipping further inside.
- There are stability pods within the collar for the utmost protection of the ankle and a place of hyper-stability for lightweight traction.
- Meanwhile, these are best for use in slightly wet fields.
Under Armour Rugby Shoes
Under Armour is an expert in specialized footwear, that provides improved efficiency through cutting edge design. Furthermore, Under Armour rugby shoes incorporating creativity, consistency and a lightweight fit, might just be what you need to rise above the competition.
Under Armour CoreSpeed
This is an innovative pair of shoes that helps especially for kickers to flex with the natural movements of the foot. One of the great things about Under Armour CoreSpeed is that it is possible to customize the studs.
Key features
- Made with synthetic leather uppers, giving the foot a more relaxed feeling.
- For an improved touch, it has a 3D printer layer on top of the upper one.
- Absorbs impact with its unique “Charged Cushioning” technology on the footbed.
- The off-set lacing mechanism offers a wider surface for kicking.
- The newly designed cleat plate assists the natural movement of the foot.
- In addition, internal shank built with BZM for optimum foot support and flexibility.
Under Armour Men’s Force 3.0
For backs and wingers who are looking for a pair from a strong brand that really delivers, Under Armour Men’s Force 3.0 is really a perfect choice.
Key features
- Comes with a comfortable upper and sturdy soleplate, which is very lightweight and very flexible in the forefoot.
- The upper comes with microfibre Trivela that helps in flexibility and gives a reasonable amount of support on the foot.
- Features a Charged Cushioning which decreases impact.
- Above all, the heels have an anti-slip lining, which allows you more control.
Canterbury Rugby Shoes
Canterbury is a rugby-focused sports equipment development company in New Zealand.
“At Canterbury, we understand that it’s not one-size-fits-all when it comes to rugby shoes. That’s why we designed four types of rugby shoes to suit different areas of the beautiful game. From our light-weighted Speed boots, for those who love to sprint, to the front row forward-favored Stampede, our collection is designed with the latest sporting technology.”
That’s what Canterbury says!
Canterbury Speed 3.0 Pro SG
Canterbury is a UK-based sports equipment manufacturing company in New Zealand that focuses specifically on rugby. Canterbury Speed 3.0 Pro SG Boots is a convenient option for the fleet-footed forwards.
Key features
- It offers a bootie-like fit that offers extreme comfort and weight reduction.
- To provide foot coverage, it comes with a tougher exterior layer.
- Enhanced foot entry with one-to-one foot user compliance that adjusts to the movement of the foot.
- Elevated breathability and comfort when playing.
- The combination of molded and metal studs ensures you can wear them all year round unless there is extreme weather.
Canterbury Men’s Soft Ground Rugby Boots
This pair of ruby shoes are designed to be versatile and strong. Furthermore, this is built on Canterbury’s latest wide fit power last 1.1, which features a wide forefoot for comfort.
Key feature
- To ensure optimum wearer comfort, the upper features sturdy material.
- For added comfort, the collar has a 10mm foam cushioning.
- Presence of replaceable screw-in studs
- The lightweight traction is provided by the Hybrid8 plate outsole.
- Lower limb pressure is reduced by an 8mm heel lift.
- A locked-in toe box and collar.
Gilbert Rugby Shoes
In the world of rugby, Gilbert has long been an icon and has a strong understanding of the demands of the game. Their 8-stud boot offerings are perfect for your five tight players as far as shoes are concerned. Moreover, they definitely brought out the best of Jake Ball and Clement Maynadier.
Gilbert Celera V3 HI 8S
This is a premium leather boot that is ideal for rugby enthusiasts in schools and clubs. For a soft flexible feel, the Hi-Cut Celera uses a high-grade PU, combined with a hi-tech support cradle for outstanding results.
Key features
- For a soft flexible feel, the Hi-Cut Celera uses a high-grade PU combined with a hi-tech support cradle for excellent performance.
- The EVA removable footbed is full length.
- Furthermore, in dry or rainy weather, they have awesome traction.
Gilbert Kaizen 3.0 Power SG
Gilbert Kaizen 3.0 Power SG Shoes is a part of the latest Power Range from Gilbert. This boot features the classic 8-stud setup with new technology that enhances the strength and stability of the shoes. Generally, the 8-stud style is perfect for the locks, props, and hooker who need full traction. Ideal for driving directly through a ruck, mauling down the field, or holding the ground in the scrum.
Key features
- In even the marshiest of pitches, the eight metal studs provide a great grip while the synthetic uppers reduce the absorption of water.
- The padded ankle cuff provides ankle bones with some protection and maintains comfort and optimum fit.
- A rigid sole and stable interior help you to exert all your strength.
- Thanks to its lightweight nature, it ensures longevity and foot safety without sacrificing agility.
Rugby Socks
We’ve almost come to the end of the read. But wait, there are a couple more things to share with you. Do you think having a pair of rugby shoes will be enough? What about socks? Try to fit it with a comfortable pair of socks after choosing a decent pair of rugby shoes for yourself. Rugby socks are similar to long socks worn in other sports such as football. They are built just below the knee to be pulled up to cover the knee caps and calves and are intended to be hard-wearing. Here are a few suggestions for you to consider.
Adidas Unisex Rivalry Field OTC Socks
A perfect all-around sock containing moisture-wicking wool to keep your feet dry from sweat. This features a fully cushioned footbed for optimum shock absorption, while additional stability is offered by arch and ankle compression.
Gilbert Rugby Mens Kryten II Rugby Socks
This sock pair includes heel, toe, and underfoot padding of high density. It comes with top-of-foot mesh ventilation and many other nice features, such as elasticated ankle support, flat toe seam, and a fold-over cuff.
Best Rugby Shoes | Conclusion
You have no choice but to find the right shoes if you are going to play rugby. But which one will you get? Certainly, there is no better option than the one that feels good for you. All is down to personal preference. A place to start should be the list we’ve shared above. We hope this helps you to select the best pair of rugby shoes for yourself. To conclude, gift yourself with the best of rugby shoes and conquer the field!
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