There is also the potential for the cup to actually make an injury worse. A bad landing can drive the edges of the cup into a leg, causing a bruise. For the cup to work, it has to be in exactly the right place. A player may not wear…any items containing … rigid material…not otherwise permitted under this law. World Rugby Laws A player is on the field to perform. If equipment makes them feel slower, less agile, or less effective, they won’t wear it if they’re given the choice. Worse than just uncomfortable? It’s also very common for players to feel that a cup interferes with their running, flexibility, and agility. There are other types of protective equipment that you have to be sure don’t fall foul of the Rugby laws.

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This is true of many rugby injuries to this area. As long as they stay in place, cups are great protection against grabbing, twisting, and crushing injuries of all types. Yet, their use remains uncommon. Other Protective Equipment My impression from rugby forums is that players are more likely to wear cups in the United States. They may be more used to the practice from playing other sports with a hard ball, like lacrosse or baseball. Why Don’t Many Rugby Players Wear Cups?A percentage of injuries to these sensitive organs can also be fairly serious. Blows could result in contusions, lacerations, ruptures and could even, in an extreme case, contribute to fertility problems. There is no specific law in Rugby Union that mentions protective cups. However, there is a law the prohibits gear or kit with rigid material. Rugby is a collision sport and a player’s groin area is both somewhat exposed and very sensitive. A hard collision with the groin can be seriously debilitating. However, as far as I know, the laws have never been tested with regards to a cup. I’ve never heard of a player been told to remove one by a match official. World Rugby has a specific foul for grabbing, twisting, or squeezing private parts. This carries a penalty of anywhere between twelve weeks suspension or up to four years.

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But a cup isn’t one of the exceptions. If the sports authorities wanted to encourage them, they’d surely be listed here. One example of a foul play that groin protection could prevent can be seen in the 2020 Six Nations match between England and Wales.So, what happens if the cup gets moved off-center during a play, then gets hit before the player can adjust it? The edges of the cup can dig directly into the skin, causing a worse injury than the original blow ever would have. I haven’t seen any survey that gives percentages on the likelihood of players wearing cups. So, I’ll go by my own experience at amateur level. Many rugby players feel that wearing a cup would make them less effective as players and less comfortable when playing. In general, players in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand tend not to wear cups unless returning from a groin injury.

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The section of the law goes on to list several pieces of kit that are exceptions to this law. That includes these items that certainly have hard plastic: For some players, wearing a cup may let them feel that they have some protection from these injuries. With his private parts held tight against his body and under a shield, there would have been nothing for the opposing player to grab. In his defense, it was clear that no injury was intended and Jones was not injured. Marler is known for his eccentric sense of humor. In footage of a scuffle during the match, Marler was clearly seen grabbing Welsh player Alun Wyn Jones by the testicles.

In a sport like rugby where there is a lot of bending, grabbing, falling, and hitting, it is common for the player’s gear to get disarranged.