Rugby players could lose THREE STONE during lockdown according to a top physio

Medic Luke Anthony who worked at Gloucester and was head of sports science for Brian McDermott’s Reading says that top players could lose as much as three stone (about 20 kgs) in muscle mass during the shutdown of sport during the global pandemic.

He says rugby players will have felt the full effects on their body of not playing games or having access to training regimes. That could see players who weigh between 100 and 120kg, losing as much as 20kg of muscle.

In an interview with The Sun he warned: “Guys will lose weight.

“Forwards who are between 100 to 120kg will lose between ten to 20kg of muscle mass. These guys are freakishly big and it takes a lot of work, from a training and nutritional point of view, to maintain it. As soon as you drop off, so does the weight."

“Some will be OK weight-wise, others will struggle. Not all of them will still be squatting 180kg, deadlifting, bench-pressing — the basics — so will lose muscle mass.

“They will be de-conditioned, but rugby will probably have to compromise somewhere to get back to a safe level to play.

“Realistically, it’s four weeks bare minimum. If you have a long period out, then ramp it up quickly, your body is more prone to injury. You need to build up tolerance."

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