Alcohol, as we all know, is a synonymous part of Rugby culture, with the camaraderie shared between respective teams over a few pints distinguishing Rugby from other sports.
Usually, unless you’re playing Second’s Rugby-where being drunk during play is nearly an unwritten rule-pints are reserved for after the game, with the common consensus being that drinking before a game would impair performance.
However, new research conducted at the School of Sports and Excercise at Massey University, New Zealand has proven that drinking eleven pints the night before a game does not negatively affect a players performance the next day.
The test’s were carried out on nineteen different Rugby players with their performances in sprinting, jumping, hydration and other physical aspects tested both before and after drinking nineteen pints.
With the exception of jumping, all of the players tested the same in each of the tasks the day after the drinking as they did beforehand.
Rugby players ability to consume large amount’s of alcohol with minimum consequences is, according to experts, attributed to their large size and high levels of fitness.
So, it looks like Rugby’s romance with the alcohol is set to continue, unless you’re a lock, that is.
Source: The Daily Mail.
