ABSTRACT
The incidence of sports injuries in high-contact sports such as rugby, football, ice hockey and baseball is high. These sports have always been played with intense competition such that injuries become inevitable. However, the severity of injuries can be reduced with appropriate training and when protective clothing is worn, which has the ability to absorb the shocks or dissipate the energy over a wider area such that it lessens the impact. The protection gear in rugby includes headgear, shirt pads, shin guards and mouth guards. Highperformance impact protection materials are embedded in the garment, particularly in the shoulder, biceps and chest region. These materials need to be soft, thin, flexible and durable. Commercial products are usually available in various thicknesses and some can be moulded to fit various contours of the body.
