England Rugby & Virgin Active Launch Fit For Rugby

England Rugby and Virgin Active have launched ‘Fit for Rugby’, a new rugby inspired fitness programme and online training hub as part of their new partnership. 

The training plans have been created by England Rugby’s strength and conditioning coaches in conjunction with Virgin Active, and brought to life on a new online training hub, featuring England Rugby’s men’s and women’s players.

Maro Itoje shows ways to increase strength and explosive power, while England women’s star Rachael Burford will offer top tips on balance and conditioning. Participants will get the chance to discover the best methods for achieving optimum mind and body health.

Devised by the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) head of sport science and medicine, Mark Bennett, the programme utilises the RFU’s expertise on fitness training and exercises for rugby.

The newly created training programme will be accompanied by video tutorials led by England players, which will be available on the newly created fitness hub. Through these videos people will be able to hear advice from the likes of Itoje on what weight-led exercises can enhance upper and lower body strength, or advice from Elliot Daly on how dynamic and explosive exercises can build speed.

There are six training pillars in ‘Fit for Rugby’ which help build strength, power and agility. The training programme includes specific exercises from each pillar plotted in sequences to deliver the best results. 

Virgin Active’s head of product development James Trevorrow, commented: “Whether you’re a regular rugby player or simply want to add something new to your fitness regime, it will allow you to take the way you train and recover to the next level.

“This programme offers an opportunity to learn from England’s elite – the very best at achieving optimum physical and mental wellbeing.”  

Mark Bennett, RFU head of sport science and medicine added: “Rugby is a complex sport to train for – it requires a variety of fitness attributes. This training programme focuses on sequences of exercises to effectively and safely train you for the rugby. But it’s suitable for general fitness enthusiasts as well.”