ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of sports nutrition issues that are the most relevant when working with rugby players. The classification of carbohydrates (CHO) purely as simple or complex is too simplistic given, that both CHO types can induce similar post-prandial responses. For this reason, sports nutritionists now pay more attention to the glycemic index (GI). Despite protein supplements being the most widely used of all sports supplements, the protein requirement of rugby players is still unclear. Fat has historically been viewed negatively, and as such, many rugby players believe that they should eliminate all fats from their diets. The fluid requirements of rugby players can be divided into pre, during, and post-exercise requirements. The storage capacity of vitamins is particularly important when trying to establish if a rugby player's diet lacks any fat-soluble vitamin. The chapter also incorporates case-study to demonstrate how scientific principles have been applied in practice.
