Why Do Rugby Players Tape Their Wrists?

You play rugby, you're already strong, but that doesn't mean you can't be, or at least feel, stronger. Taping your wrists when playing rugby can makes them stronger and more secure. It could be the difference between making that game-saving tackle, or letting it slip through your fingers.

By taping directly over the wrist joint line, you're restricting the range that you can flex or extend your wrist. This will make them stronger, and less susceptible to impact injuries. 

This is our guide on exactly how to tape your wrists for rugby.

If your club physio doesn't have what you need, we'd suggest getting either a 5cm Zinc Oxide Tape or a 5cm Tear EAB.

Zinc Oxide Tape is the only choice if you need to immobilise an area, such as a wrist. It's a non-stretch tape that provides unrivalled support.

Choose the Tan/Brown version for its highest tensile strength. Because of it’s strength, the most common use of Zinc Oxide Tape is to support joints such as the ankle, knee and shoulder. You won’t usually see it on show though – it’s usually hidden by a sock or jersey. In this case, we'd stick with the White.

Elastic Adhesive Bandage is the most versatile rugby tape in your kitbag. It can be used for everything from providing light support and compression, to protecting thumbs and, in this case, wrists.

Choose Tearable EAB for faster taping. EAB is stretchy, lightweight, and strong. That makes it perfect as an in-game compression bandage. It’s the tape you’ll see most often around the thighs of your favourite second row, keeping their lifting blocks secured.

Now we know the tape, let's look at how it's used...

Start by finding your wrist joint line by extending your wrist to 90°. You'll see where the skin folds at the back of the wrist. This is your centre line. Return your hand to a neutral position before taping.