Inside the Life of an Elite Rugby League Physio

We feel like we've done a lot of Rugby Union, so let's take a look at Rugby League this time...

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like being a physio in professional sport you’re in the right place. The chaos, the travel, the injuries and everything in between. We spoke with Rugby League physio, Joshua Zoppo about what life looks like from the sidelines.

Here's how League compares to Union. Does anything surprise you at all?

If you’ve ever wondered who’s behind the tape jobs, ice packs and sideline chaos in Rugby League, meet Joshua Zoppo (@joshzoppophysio). He’s currently working with the Catalans Dragons in France, but also jets around the world as head physio for the Fijian national team. Not a bad gig if you ask me.

Josh grew up in Australia, where he played semi-pro football and studied physiotherapy, graduating in 2015. Straight out the gate, he jumped into sport working with the Wests Tigers, Sydney Swans and even the NBL, Australia’s pro basketball league. It wasn’t long before he worked his way up to the NRL first grade. Which, if you don't know, is the top league in Australia and New Zealand.

He's not just about big job titles though. Josh clearly loves the game, but it’s the people that keep him hooked. He’s worked everything from the women's sides to international tours with Fiji Bati, travelling to places like Japan, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand along the way.

Now, alongside his team roles, he runs The Club Physio (@theclubphysio), which is an online education platform that’s become a go-to for up-and-coming physios. And if you follow him online, you’ll know he’s got time for a joke, a reel, and some really satisfying ankle tape job.

Working in Rugby League isn’t all sideline glamour and strapping ankles at lightning speed. For Josh, it’s a mix of long days, tight turnarounds and more travel than your average touring musician.

During the rugby season, his week is built around the fixture list. The number of days between games basically dictates everything, from rehab timelines to gym sessions. Early in the week, it’s all about helping players recover, modifying training plans, and making sure no one’s pushing through something they shouldn’t.

Being based in France adds a twist. The Catalans Dragons play all their away games in England, which means Josh and the rest of the support staff spend a lot of time in airports. Luckily, he reckons they’ve got a pretty solid crew, which definitely helps when you’re always packing tape and rollers instead of suncream.

Day-to-day, it’s a bit of a juggling act: team meetings, rugby sessions, gym, recovery, more taping, and staying on top of who needs what. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s fast-paced, tight-knit, and (from the sound of it) exactly the kind of chaos Josh thrives in.

If you had to guess what gets taped the most in Rugby League, you’d probably be right.  Ankles, ankles, and more ankles. Josh reckons they get through a mountain of ankle tape every game day. Makes sense when you’re dealing with 80 minutes of full-contact chaos.

Lateral sprains are the main culprit, but wrists and shoulders aren’t far behind in Rugby League. It’s the kind of sport where bodies get battered week in, week out, so having a physio who knows how to prep and protect is pretty crucial.

On match days, Josh might be strapping ankles over boots, throwing on a quick shoulder wrap, or taping up a thumb or two mid-game. Fingers are another big one. They're easy to injure, especially when players are tackling low or hitting the deck hard.

The trick, he says, is not just knowing how to tape, but knowing when it’s the right call. Sometimes it’s about giving a player the confidence to go out and do their thing. Other times, it’s a race against the clock with scissors, spray, and a prayer.

Josh isn’t just strapping ankles and sprinting onto rugby pitches. He’s quietly redefining what it means to be a Rugby League physio in 2025.

Whether it’s creating content for The Club Physio, mentoring students, or just sharing honest takes online, he’s leaning into something most physios wouldn’t touch: visibility. Not the self-promotional kind, but the “here’s what it’s actually like” kind. The scruffy hotel gyms, the last-minute injury call-ups, the relentless reality behind the matchday buzz.

It's becoming common in all sports. Using social media to help promote not just yourself and your own personal brand, but using it to educate and actually make a difference, no matter how big or small. 

And that’s the bit that matters. Because for young physios looking in, Josh is making it feel possible. He’s showing that you can be in pro sport, such as rugby, do it your way, and still make room for humour, growth, and sharing what you know. The game’s changing and Josh is helping change what it means to be part of it.

• Life in Rugby League Moves Fast - With fewer staff and more chaos than Rugby Union, league physios are often juggling everything all at once and Josh seems to thrive in it.
• Injuries Aren't Always Textbook in Rugby League - Sometimes it's a classic hamstring, sometimes it’s navigating a player's headspace after weeks of rehab. Both matter equally and it's all about dealing with them in the right manner.
• Taping is a Necessity in Rugby League - Similarly to union, you'll rarely see a rugby player without some sort of tape strapped on his body. And ankles are by far the most popular.
• Education and Social Media Grow Daily - Like Josh, physios in rugby league and beyond are turning to social media to boost their followings and help educate others regularly.