For most rugby teams, the answer is simple:
- Light EAB (elastic adhesive bandage)
- Zinc oxide tape
Keep a good stock of both and most of your training and matchday taping needs are covered by default.
Light EAB
This tape is used constantly in rugby. It stretches, unwinds easily, tears by hand and works well for general support, light compression, and everyday taping where restriction of movement is not required.
What size?
Get the 5cm and 7.5cm light EAB. The 5cm will be used for ear taping and the 7.5cm for lineout lifting straps. Both sizes will be used for general preventative and medical taping. 3 or 4 boxes of each should keep most teams going for a few weeks. Consider also buying a box of 2.5cm light EAB for thumb and finger taping.
Note: don’t confuse light elastic adhesive bandage with plain old elastic adhesive bandage. They’re both stretchy tapes, but they behave quite differently in use.
Zinc Oxide Tape
Zinc oxide tape is a strong and durable non-stretch tape. It is used where firmer support or restriction of movement is required.
What size?
Most rugby teams use 3.8cm or 5cm zinc oxide tape, or a mix of both. Start with 2 or 3 boxes. A few rolls of 2.5cm might also come in handy for fingers and thumbs.
Is that really all I need?
It gets you 90% of the way there. One other tape you’ll probably want to buy is PVC tape. (Otherwise known as insulation tape or electricians’ tape.) It’s cheap, widely used, and ends up solving lots of small practical problems: adding security to other tape jobs, holding up socks, taping on boots and more.
As for more ‘specialist’ tapes, they have their place. You might encounter:
- Premium tan tape, a heavy-duty version of zinc oxide tape popular for various tape jobs.
- Foam underwrap, which sits under other tapes to protect the skin.
- Fixing tape (often referred to by the brand name Hypafix) used as a base layer for various medical taping techniques.
They all do a job, and do it well, but they all add to the cost of provisioning tape.
Our advice: stick to the basics until someone asks for a specific specialist tape for a specific reason.
If you’re buying tape…
…We sell all the above. Check them out here:
Physical Sports Limited sells first aid and medical supplies for the treatment of sports injuries. | www.Physical-Sports.co.uk | 01943 662 155
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