When i first started playing rugby players used to wear massive shoulder pads.... at what point did players/clubs decide that they weren't needed?

I used to love putting my massive pads on and going out for battle.. coupled with a skullcap and a badly fitting gumshield (at the time the only shop that sold the pads and skullcaps in the region was in wigan... he must have made a killing... brown sports i think it was called)..... the pros were wearing them so of course the kids wanted to....... we all used to be there on a sunday morning with our replica protective gear on.

Everyone had them on though... looking back now they dont half look silly.

some bad boys on here


i wonder why players stopped wearing them?

i remember joe grima swinging a winger round above is head by them once when he played for widnes.... maybe i have answered my own question there.

The gum shields we used to buy,we bought from the sports shop.What had Hott Waxx upstairs.Cant think of the name,Boil some water throw your shield in give it a min or 2.Then throw it in your mouth and clench your teeth.Ha presto instant gum shield.Plus red raw gums from the boiling water.

haha

some lad at grappenhall griffins had one in the top and bottom of his mouth because his mum said he had to due to his 'delicate teeth'..... he used to run round the pitch slobbering like the dog out of turner and hooch.

Don't the wear smaller t-shirt type padding now

all sciency like

Nu-Sports

There used to be one in Ashton when i was a kid, used to sell all the Aussie tops too

Thats the one i bought my Lazio shirt from there,when Gazza signed for Lazio .Even had his name put on the back.

was Wards before that wasn't it?

I have a pair that Tawera Nikau wore when he played for the New Zeland Mouris in a test match. Propper massive.

I got given some massive shoulder pads that had been worn by Sorenson.The problem was I was a 10stone winger/full back

Thought this would be about Wainwright's Orford Sports skullcap.

The big chunky things restricted movement a fair bit and made it easier for your opponent to get a good grab on you when they tackle you.

Now its all the tightly fitted gear, with little squares of padding (1cm by 1cm) so that it moulds around your shoulders and chest rather than having big pieces of foam sticking out of your shoulders!

Only girls wear shoulder pads anyway.... i think theres one, maybe two lads on our team that wear them and thats it.

I have an under armour rugby top for sale should anyone like to purchase it? Hardly ever worn. £10.

I just wear Bicep pads now, cause my tackling technique is terrible.