If players are getting cold, why aren't they wearing warmer gear?

[kiap]

I think it was around 9°C, which doesn't sound so bad. Certainly wasn't a lower temp than the Brumbies-Reds match 10 days before and I don't think the cold was such an issue there.

But several of the Wallaby players on Tuesday were visibly shivering and cold - because of the wind-chill factor and them not being acclimatised to the cold. The wind measured at Newcastle Uni apparently got up to 94Km/h.

If Pocock did get hypothermia then it rings true. The players should have warm gear with them and be wearing it if needed.

 

[Jiggles]

You can never underestimate the effects of windchill thats for sure. 9C with gusts up to 90km/h an hour would've felt very cold, probably around zero or lower.

But you can still prepare for this with what you wear, even in a game of rugby. Many club players at an amateur level do it around the world in much worse conditions. So why can't the number 2 team in the world?

 

[FANATIC]

There are LOTS of things you can do to toughen up for really cold weather.
You have to adjust your natural thermostat or hypothalamus.
It does not take a full season to do so either.
For an event you can get a start in 4-7 days.
Snow skiers and mountain climbers do it all the time. It is essential for snow sports where endurance is needed. These are the sort of sports that you can die doing if you are not hard.
Simple things like NO hot water or heaters or jumpers, not even a hot cup of tea. Sitting outside in the cold, sleeping with no blankets.
It is not rocket science.
Real men have been hardening to the cold for years without expensive gear.
The fact this needs to be realized by a rugby union team and THEIR COACH in 2012 is really quite shameful IMHO.

 

[AngrySeahorse]

Oh man, insomnia has got me out of bed again....

I think it was around 9°C, which doesn't sound so bad. Certainly wasn't a lower temp than the Brumbies-Reds match 10 days before and I don't think the cold was such an issue there.

But several of the Wallaby players on Tuesday were visibly shivering and cold - because of the wind-chill factor and them not being acclimatised to the cold. The wind measured at Newcastle Uni apparently got up to 94Km/h.

If Pocock did get hypothermia then it rings true. The players should have warm gear with them and be wearing it if needed.

True TBH, when I talked of how bad the conditions were I'd would certainly be referring to the wind chill, both Ma & I said the temperature, when there was no wind was fine. The combo of wind on wet bodies was the main factor in player discomfort - in regards to temp.

Secondly, woohoo Newcastle Uni! (couldn't resist).

You can never underestimate the effects of windchill thats for sure. 9C with gusts up to 90km/h an hour would've felt very cold, probably around zero or lower.

There are LOTS of things you can do to toughen up for really cold weather.
You have to adjust your natural thermostat or hypothalamus.

Totally agree with both points. I do training out at Newcastle Uni on Tues & Thurs most weeks during the Rugby season, then head home on my motorcycle around 7:30-8pm when the mercury drops & my body is all warmed up & sweaty from training. Sweaty & warm body + cotton clothes that absolutely do not protect you from rain or wind + being in winter + riding through 80km/hr speed zones + 25-30min of riding home (including over a big arse bridge which is seriously wind effected at times) = resistance to cold, or going numb. Maybe the Wallabies need to get some motorbikes or get pillioned home with someone after training sessions. Otherwise just jump in a pool of ice then get out & stand in front of a large fan.

 

[Riptide]

I doubt any Scottish players were suffering from hypothermia, or any Munster players before that.

 

[Schadenfreude]

I doubt any Scottish players were suffering from hypothermia, or any Munster players before that.

Or any Australians...

Is someone seriously suggesting that with the amount of energy Pocock was burning off, in 9C, that he could get hypothermia?

 

[Godfrey]

Keep in mind the wind and the fact players were very wet. Not exactly a warm combination.

 

[en_force_er]

If the brand is not displayed?

Barnes looks to be wearing a lot of gear in the photo above and that's from 18 months ago.

Yeah it'd probably fine but I think skins could argue that their branding isn't just their logo, they have their signature yellow seams which would be obvious to anyone watching.

 

[FANATIC]

Or any Australians.

Is someone seriously suggesting that with the amount of energy Pocock was burning off, in 9C, that he could get hypothermia?

Yes.
reported by Growden in SMH "Pocock, unable to attend the after-match media conference as he was suffering from hypothermia,

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/pocock-rues-litany-of-missed-opportunities-20120606-1zwr8.html#ixzz1x9ozLEXu"​

 

[Ignoto]

Snow skiers and mountain climbers do it all the time. It is essential for snow sports where endurance is needed. These are the sort of sports that you can die doing if you are not hard.

The problem is the huge range of temperatures that our guys play in. During Summer they're training in 30+ degree heat and for the odd winter game 2-10 degree (most of the time without wind).

So for a coach, what do you train for? Heat you're going to majority of the time play in or a different climate.

(This is simply to do with the temperature and not wet weather playing).

Hypothermia is just as serious of a concern as dehydration and from memory back in 2009 the Reds vs Cheetahs game, we broke the game into quarters for the players to have an extra break to re-hydrate. Perhaps the rules can be modified to allow players to wear additional items to keep the heat in and the water out (something similar to a wet suit) in extreme cases.

 

[Jets]

Skins do make thermal garments. maybe some of the players should request some.

http://store.skins.net/au//mens-compression/compression-snow

Also the wet and wind have a huge effect on the temp. I can completely understand how guys would get hypothermia especially as they got fatigued.

 

[ripper868]

Can you wear the long skins for your legs in a game?

Nope - IRB Regulations stipulate that any leg skins stuff must stop above the knee.

 

[Groucho]

I've played a bit of rugby in the UK, in london and up around Yorkshire, in the backrow. On really cold days, like a once in 2 or 3 year days when the max temp would be around 1 or 2 on a game day, I used to wear double skins on top and have a pair of calf warmers under the socks. A game I played near Richmond in Yorkshire was particularly bad, it is the only time I have felt cold while doing a contact sport.

I felt that once you got into the game you were ok, but you needed to rug up at HT and as soon as the game stopped due to the moister on your skin. Sure the conditions with wind chill were shithouse on Tuesday, but were they really that bad?

5 c and 115 kph wind gusts is quite extreme. That equates to a wind chill of -10.8 c, hence players experiencing hypothermia.

 

[Drew]

They should look into what gridiron teams like the green bay packers wear. They play in consistently freezing conditions. Unfortunately for them They don't wear the heated calf length coats on the field. I too thought it odd they didn't at least wear long sleeves.

 

[Jiggles]

5 c and 115 kph wind gusts is quite extreme. That equates to a wind chill of -10.8 c, hence players experiencing hypothermia.

I'm sure it would, but wouldn't it only be an issue once you stop moving?

 

[Groucho]

I'm sure it would, but wouldn't it only be an issue once you stop moving?

I'm not sure. If you run around in rugby skins in -10.8c then you're quite likely to become hypothermic no matter how much body heat you try to generate. My limited understanding of physiology is that wind chill is indistinguishable from air temperature.

 

[Jiggles]

It would be a good study to read if a sports science egg head has done a little research into this area, thats for sure.

 

[FANATIC]

The problem is the huge range of temperatures that our guys play in. During Summer they're training in 30+ degree heat and for the odd winter game 2-10 degree (most of the time without wind).

So for a coach, what do you train for? Heat you're going to majority of the time play in or a different climate.

(This is simply to do with the temperature and not wet weather playing).

Hypothermia is just as serious of a concern as dehydration and from memory back in 2009 the Reds vs Cheetahs game, we broke the game into quarters for the players to have an extra break to re-hydrate. Perhaps the rules can be modified to allow players to wear additional items to keep the heat in and the water out (something similar to a wet suit) in extreme cases.

Rugby is basically a cold season sport. If we want to play to win in NZ, RSA and now Argentina in winter we have to train for cold and wet, as we should for northern tours. We should also do altitude training as this improves fitness levels when you then compete at sea level. A good example of this is that Olympic rowing teams go to the NSW snowy mountains Lake Jindabye to train as this increases performance at sea level. The AIS has a base there, I have never heard of Rugby using it.
Wallabies often fall over at the high altitude grounds in Sth Africa as they don't do altitude training. Why? when it is an excepted way to increase performance outcomes at elite level.
If you are into nerdy sports science stuff this has a bit of a relevant rave on altitude and home ground advantage.
http://www.sportsscientists.com/2011/06/home-ground-advantage-super-rugby.html

bottom line is a coach should train using all available science.

 

[kiap]

Hey Fanatic, while you're supplying the sports science links, have you got any publications on acclimatising to the cold?

I wanna see the before and after results of 4 days of no hot water or heaters or jumpers, plus sitting outside in the cold and sleeping with no blankets.

 

[FANATIC]

Hey Fanatic, while you're supplying the sports science links, have you got any publications on acclimatising to the cold?

I wanna see the before and after results of 4 days of no hot water or heaters or jumpers, plus sitting outside in the cold and sleeping with no blankets.

If you are *really* interested do some reading up on Nordic Military Training and/or long distance ski biathlon.