If you are not familiar with rugby, a match may resemble a game of helter skelter that is somewhat reminiscent of American football but without protective head gear and padding. However, the International Rugby Board has specific laws and regulations governing exactly what players may and may not wear.
Rugby Charter
Rugby is a game that fosters team work, courage, skill, and a love of sport. The IRB suggests that due to the physical intensity of the sport and the demanding athletic abilities of its players, it is a game that results in high standards of sportsmanship, fair play and ethical behavior. Team members become friends and the camaraderie lasts beyond the match. Rugby is a popular sport that is played by men, women and children in many countries through out the world.
Laws
Even though it may seem there are no rules, rugby has a set of 22 Laws that govern everything from what a player can wear to scrum, ruck and maul requirements. The Laws were created to help players of all physical sizes and playing proficiency enjoy the game. Some Laws have subsets of Regulations that provide specific clarification regarding areas discussed by a Law. Rugby players must adhere to Law 4 titled, "Players' Clothing," and Regulation 12, with further specifies the exact parameters of the rules. For instance, players are allowed to wear shin guards as mentioned in Law 4. Regulation 12 goes on to spell out the material the shin guard can be made of, how high it can reach on a player's shin and if it can be viewed over the player's socks.
Head Gear
Law 4 specifies that a player may wear head gear, Regulation 12 spells out the exact parameters under which the headgear must be manufactured, including the thickness of the padding, the width of the ear vents and the area of forward visibility once the device is worn. Glasses or protective goggles are not considered to be part of the allowed head gear.
Banned Items
Due to the physical nature of the game, even items of clothing that are normally allowed can be banned by a referee when he believes an item is liable to cause injury to another player. The IRB specifically bans 11 items from use as clothing or part of a uniform. Item C under banned clothing states, items that contain buckles, clips, rings, hinges, zippers, screws, bolts or rigid material or projection are not permitted to be worn by a player. Sports goggles with rigid lenses fall within this category.
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