Rugby Union. What are those straps that some of the players are wearing just above their knees?

Question

Rugby Union. What are those straps that some of the players are wearing just above their knees?

Answer 1

Not totally true about hamstring strapping. In Rugby Union, when there is a line out, you are allowed to lift a player to get better elevation in the line. If your team has the line out they will call numbers in code that will indicate where the ball is being thrown. The strapping is generally done on the taller players in the line out (ie second row, lock, one of the break-aways) and it is where the props and other lifters will lift the player from - it is more to give them a quick target zone to lift once the ball has been thrown in. If you notice, it is only the forwards that have the strapping (so it is not a hamstring thing as every player would have it).

Therefore it is a simply a guide so your props can quickly find the spot to lift the player and thus win the line out

Answer 2

it's strapping to protect the hamstring, similar to American footballers who wear tape. The principle is that the tape takes the strain and rips before the muscle

Answer 3

It's strapping to support hamstrings.

Answer 4

do you know i was thinking the same thing earlier today