Training and nutritional status are the two most crucial aspects in determining successful outcomes in sports performance. It is not possible to perform adequate training regimens unless training activity is supported by appropriate nutritional support. If the answer to these questions is yes then it is likely that the cause may be inadequate or inappropriate dietary provision.
Clearly nutrition is a key component of success in rugby football.
For over 70 years now the importance of carbohydrates as the fuel for exercising muscles has been recognised and there is now no doubt that adequate availability of dietary carbohydrate is essential to support training and successful rugby performance. Successive bouts of exercise will deplete the muscles and liver of their store of carbohydrate, known as glycogen, this will lead to fatigue and decreased performance. The following diagram shows the depletion of glycogen stores that occurs with successive bouts of exercise, if the diet is low in carbohydrate, the reduction in glycogen stores is much more acute. Consuming a high carbohydrate diet is an essential every day requirement for players wishing to avoid fatigue and impaired performance. Unfortunately the typical diet in the UK is not high in carbohydrate.