Professions Related to Rugby

Do you all know the sport called rugby? And do you like rugby?

I love it!!

I am a rugby player currently playing for a team in England called the Worcester Warriors. My profession here is considered to be a professional rugby player.

Women's rugby is evolving rapidly, but it is still difficult to make a living solely on the salary I receive from my current team, so I live with the support of sponsors for my activities. (The league as a whole is apparently aiming for professionalization in the future.)

I am 25 years old and I think retirement is still a long way off, but since I have lived my life dedicated to rugby, there are times when I imagine, What kind of life will I lead after I retire?

I am not sure what form it will take, but I am certain that I will be involved in rugby. lol

Coming to England and being able to become a member of a large club allowed me to learn about the many jobs related to rugby.

I will introduce the professions involved in rugby that I know of. This is not exhaustive, as I am only listing the ones that come to mind immediately.
If you know of any other jobs related to rugby, please let me know in the comments section (^^)

1. Player

There are people who make a living by playing rugby. They are professional rugby players.

This is, of course, a profession that is only recognized while one is active as a player.

Depending on the contract, performance and results are often reflected in the salary, which also serves as motivation for the players.

On the other hand, if you are out for a long time due to injury, I think the mental burden is significant.

However, I admire professional rugby players. The age at which you can play rugby at a high level is not that high. I find it very attractive to be determined and devote yourself to rugby during that short period, and while there are both company-employed players and professional players in League One, I find myself rooting much more for those who have transitioned from company-employed players to professional players. In particular, the companies that support League One are often large-scale, and I am impressed by the figure of those who take risks to challenge their goals rather than choosing a stable life there.

2. Rugby Coach

As a profession to be involved in rugby after retiring as a player, the first thing that comes to mind is a coach.

Even in League One teams, it is common to see retired players take up positions as assistant coaches for that same team.

There are many types of coaches. Those who specialize in attack, those who specialize in defense, and those for forwards, backs, scrums, lineouts, and so on.

Recently, there are also many skill coaches, and I am currently being helped by a kicking coach. If you are interested, please take a look here!

It is common for former players to become coaches, so it is often thought that coaching is not that difficult, but I do not think so. Perhaps I am personally bad at teaching others, but coaches must always consider safety and control the intensity of practice while grasping the players' level of understanding.

Last summer, I participated in a specialized training session for Class A coaches, and the more I learned about coaching, the more profound it became. I cannot thank enough the coaches who have taught me up until now, thinking about how much they must have considered and prepared for us.

Also, when a coach reaches a higher position, they have to decide on player selection for matches. The larger the team, the more players there are who cannot participate in the match. I imagine that telling those players is a difficult moment.

3. S&C Coach

This stands for Strength & Conditioning Coach. In short, it is a person who creates and instructs safe and effective programs centered on strength training for the purpose of improving performance and preventing injuries.

People in this position on a team are usually muscular. Especially in rugby, where physical elements greatly affect the outcome of a match and many injuries occur, an S&C coach is essential!

In the gym, they instruct weight training by changing menus depending on the season, and on the field, they implement fitness menus so that players can reach their peak for matches. It is very important for the players, but since it puts a heavy physical load on them, they unfortunately sometimes become unpopular. Haha

On my team, the S&C coach visualizes and manages GPS data on a tablet during practice, and for players whose running intensity is a little lacking, they add extra fitness training after practice.

Because the S&C coach manages the amount of practice, we are able to reduce the risk of injury and the like.

I really like training my body, and I am happy that it directly leads to rugby performance, so I admire this profession. However, since specialized knowledge is required, it might be difficult to do immediately after retirement.

4. Doctor

As the name suggests, they are medical doctors. A doctor contracted with a team is called a team doctor, and they accompany the team to matches, check on the condition of injured players, and provide advice to physios on how to proceed with rehabilitation.

Basically, they work at a hospital, and I think the frequency with which players can see the doctor is on weekends or when they visit the field a few times a week, but the sense of security provided by having a team doctor is immeasurable.

The doctors I have met so far have given me the impression that they are close to the team's situation and the players' feelings.

Of course, this is a job that cannot be performed without a medical license.

5. Physio

Trainers who work with athletes in sports settings are called physios. While the licenses required to become a physio vary by country, I get the impression that in Japan, there is a mix of people with various types of licenses.

They are the people who stay closest to the athletes' bodies, helping with rehabilitation for injured players, teaching movements that lead to injury prevention, treating players in pain, and applying tape.

Regarding these physios, there is a point where I felt there was a major difference between Japan and the UK.

Japanese physios provide careful treatment when injuries or pain occur.

On the other hand, UK physios, after checking the pain, touch the area around the affected part only a little and then suggest a menu to strengthen the weakened affected area.

Since coming to the UK, I have deeply felt the value of the fact that Japanese physios take their time and use a rich variety of treatments.

My impression is that Japan approaches the pain, while the UK approaches the root of the pain. Of course, Japanese physios also approach the root of the pain, and UK physios also provide treatment, but it is interesting that the emphasis differs depending on the country.

Also, since the COVID-19 pandemic, I have the impression that they are doing work related to COVID, such as understanding infection prevention measures and rules regarding COVID.

On days when I have practice, I perform a lateral flow test and send a photo of it to the physio.

6. Interpreter

The Japanese rugby world has also become quite globalized. Many players who have come to Japan from overseas are on League One teams.

In such a situation, the presence of an interpreter is indispensable in a sport like rugby, where communication is essential.

The head coach of the Japan Women's National Team is Canadian. She likes learning languages and her Japanese has improved quite a bit, but she uses English when discussing details such as rugby tactics.

Since most of us are Japanese, we rely on the help of staff who can interpret to grasp the coach's intentions.

Conversely, I feel that being able to speak "English" is essential to becoming a staff member for the Japan National Team. Being able to speak English in the rugby world is a major advantage."English"is essential. Being able to speak English in the rugby world is a major advantage.

7. Public Relations Officer

The trend of thinking that it is enough for the rugby world to just produce good results in rugby is disappearing. Of course, as a club, we want to produce results in rugby, but how a club can find value through regional and social contributions is also being focused on. This is because, in the end, it leads to being a beloved club.

Also, gaining fans is essential to energizing the rugby world.

To do that, it is necessary to share what kind of initiatives are being taken, daily practice scenes, match members, schedules, and more on social media to generate interest.

Top-level teams have public relations officers. That is how much importance is placed on showing how the club exists.

The Worcester Warriors, to which I belong, also have a public relations officer. They interview coaches and players before and after matches, create videos for events like Christmas, work hard to promote the club, delight fans, and acquire new fans.

This is the PEARLS Twitter account! Please check it out if you like.

Public relations officers also play a major role within the team. Since they devise eye-catching designs and interesting events, creative people are the best fit! I couldn't do it... haha.

8. Manager

When you hear the word 'manager,' you might imagine the scene from school club activities where someone is fetching water, but no, that is different. They oversee and manage the club, acting as the heart of the club.

From acquiring new players and staff to securing sponsors, managing tournaments and matches, and coordinating and running events, they are working hard behind the scenes, out of our sight as players. Managers are often very capable people.

For example, when it was decided that I would transfer to the Warriors, the manager sent me a to-do list. It contained the documents and procedures necessary for issuing a visa, so I followed it while making full use of Google Translate, and before I knew it, I was in the UK.

9. Analyst

Since rugby is a contact sport, analyzing the opponent is the key to victory. By analyzing not only the opponent but also one's own movements to identify strengths and weaknesses, the team can practice more efficiently.

The person who makes this possible is the analyst.

They not only film practices and matches, but sometimes even use drones to film from directly above the pitch. Since rugby is both a contact sport and a territory-gaining game, footage from directly above is extremely valuable.

After a match, they upload the footage to analysis apps like Hudl or SportsCode to create an environment that is easy to analyze. They also provide match stats, making it easier to analyze what led to the match results. Regarding match stats, they provide both team stats and individual stats.

Team stats include set-piece success rates, tackle success rates, territory, and possession.

Individual stats include tackle accuracy and success rates, pass accuracy and success rates, quality of ball carries, and goal-kicking success rates.

These examples are just a rough overview, as there is actually much more information in the real stats.

It is a profession that allows you to touch the essence of rugby, and my impression is that many people in this role are good with numbers and technology.

10. Nutritionist

The Warriors have a dedicated nutritionist, and you can receive nutritional guidance at any time by making an appointment. Top-level teams always have a team nutritionist on staff.

This is because building one's body is the absolute foundation for a rugby player and is directly linked to performance.

Players have various needs, such as those who want to increase muscle mass to avoid losing out during contact, those who want to lose a little weight to improve mobility and agility, or those who are injured and need to adjust their diet to match their activity level, and nutritionists help with all of these.

I have also had meetings with the team nutritionist, and they devised a meal plan that clarified what I should eat, when, and how much. They also give various presentations to the entire team, and all of these are kept as reference materials so that I can get the information I need at any time.

For example, they provide meals for the day before a match, meal plans for night games, how to effectively consume caffeine, and recipes that can be made with items found at any supermarket, categorized into three groups: bulking, maintenance, and weight loss.

I thought I had accumulated a lot of knowledge about nutrition through self-study since I was in Japan, but I have been able to absorb a lot of new learning.

I didn't have the impression that nutritionists recommended supplements, but they recommended creatine to me because I wanted to increase my muscle mass. Also, since reducing the risk of doping is important as an athlete, they taught me about a site that stocks Informed Choice products.

This is the site. It is a bit pricey, but it is high quality and I can use it with peace of mind. The protein is very delicious and easy to drink. I eat Greek yogurt with nuts, berries, and one scoop of this protein as a late-night snack before bed. It is incredibly delicious and very nutritious, so I recommend it. By the way, I was also taught about this yogurt by the team nutritionist!

Furthermore, on practice days, the team provides snacks, shakes, and dinner, and since those menus are also devised by the team nutritionist, I am able to replenish my nutrition in a very delicious and highly nutritious way.

Thanks to the nutritionist's advice, my weight, which was 68kg right after I arrived in the UK following the sevens season, successfully increased to 72kg,a total increase of 4kg.

11. Commentator

Commentators who make watching rugby on TV more exciting. This profession has various styles depending on the broadcaster, ranging from commentary that helps beginners understand the difficult rules of rugby, to commentary that excites rugby enthusiasts with data and technical terminology.

I realized the wonder of this profession last April. Takeshi Yano, who is famous for his rugby play-by-play commentary, came to the event announcing the new structure of PEARLS. I was very moved when I heard my name and team introduced by the voice I always listen to when watching rugby. From that day on, I have been dreaming of the day I can work with Mr. Yano.

At the moment, I don't see many female rugby commentators in Japan, so I think that is a niche to aim for. In fact, in the UK, famous former and current female rugby players provide commentary for Premier 15s matches and test matches.

I am quite confident in my knowledge of rugby, and I find the profession of conveying the appeal of rugby to viewers while watching the sport I love to be very attractive.

As for challenges, my articulation is poor. The names of overseas players can be difficult to pronounce, so I need to practice! Haha.

12. Referee

Our matches cannot exist without a referee. Every time, they visit the breakdown area, read the flow of the game while avoiding the ball, coordinate with the touch judges, and blow the whistle if there is a foul. They raise a yellow or red card to the sky for players who commit dangerous fouls.

They set the standard for the match in the first half and manage the game so that disciplined rugby unfolds as the second half progresses.

They sometimes receive heartless comments or attitudes from players, coaches, and occasionally spectators. It requires a lot of physical strength, constant mental focus, and the need to stay in shape just in case. It is a very tough profession.

To be honest, I don't know how much a referee is paid per match or what kind of contract they have.

Also, I hear that few people make a living solely as a referee, and many balance it with other jobs like teaching.

Recently, a female referee made headlines for blowing the whistle in a men's premier match. I have also seen female referees active in matches at Hanazono in Japan.

I have also heard that the treatment of referees is not very good. Since it is a profession with a lot of preparation and great responsibility, I hope for an environment where the treatment of referees is improved, including showing them respect.

In conclusion

There are many professions related to rugby besides being a player. There were many jobs I only became aware of after coming to the UK. There are likely still professions I have yet to discover. Furthermore, even among the jobs I have written about here, there may be other important roles involved.

When I look back, I realize that the reason we rugby players can devote ourselves to practice every day and enjoy rugby is precisely because of the hard work of many people behind the scenes. Thank you all for everything you do.

Now, I am excited to see what path I will take in the future. I will start preparing now so that I can have various options available to me. I think there are even some things I can do concurrently while still being a player.

Rugby will continue to enrich my life forever. I intend to do my absolute best to give back to rugby in whatever way I can. Thank you for reading!