Over the last 15 years, Rugby has undergone tremendous changes both on and off the field. These changes have helped to develop the game into a more professional setup with a larger focus on both the commercial aspect of the game as well as development of players.

In the past, rugby had rightly or wrongly been judged as a sport in which you didn't need to be a brilliant athlete to compete in. Television pictures from the 70's and 80's didn't always do the sport justice; there were frequently players from both teams who appeared overweight and not very athletic. The conclusion was that a lot of these bigger players were there for their size which was useful for scrums, rucks, etc. To say that all rugby players from this generation were unfit would be completely unfair, there were obviously some with a decent level of fitness, however, compared to modern players, their fitness levels would be very low.

For modern rugby players, fitness is a vital part of their game. The introduction of TV and sponsorship deals has made the game much more professional, players have had to improve their image and fitness to make the game faster and more entertaining. The money from these deals has helped to make the clubs more fitness orientated. The top clubs now have state of the art training facilities and dieticians in an effort to keep their players in peak physical condition. As well as fitness facilities, clubs will look to work on player's strength by introducing things such as sports supplements and bodybuilding supplements such as those available from mybodybuildingsuperstore.com. Things such as whey protein powder help players to bulk up in a completely natural way. The increase in muscle helps in all areas of the game as strength is such an important part of the modern game.