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Testing methodology
Every recommendation on RugbyTested follows the same process, so you can compare pages with confidence.
Law-compliant gear
We check boots, headguards and padding against World Rugby Regulation 12 before recommending them.
A clear verdict
Each guide says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
No paid placements
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Kept current
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
Where our facts come from
We use World Rugby Regulation 12 and its approved-equipment list, national union rules (USA Rugby, RFU and others) for age-grade play, manufacturers' size charts and specifications, and published sports-medicine research on mouthguards and headgear.
What we check, by product type
| Boots | Stud pattern (SG, FG, AG), legal stud length, upper material, position fit and width. |
|---|---|
| Balls | Size by age, match or training grade, grip pattern, bladder and World Rugby approval. |
| Headguards and padding | World Rugby Regulation 12 approval, foam thickness, fit and ventilation. |
| Mouthguards | Boil-and-bite versus custom, fit, breathing and age-grade requirements. |
| Training equipment | Tackle bag and shield weight and fill, scrum machine type, durability and portability. |
Hands-on testing versus research
A review carries a "Hands-on tested" badge only when our team has used the product, and it lists the date and what we did. Every other page is built from published specs, governing-body rules, the brand's own documentation and owner feedback, and says so. Comparisons are research-based unless marked otherwise.
Prices and codes
Prices come from each brand's own store and are dated on every review. Reader codes come directly from the brands we partner with. When a brand changes an offer, we update the code everywhere it appears on the site at once.
Corrections
If you spot something out of date, email info@rugbytested.com and we'll check it and fix it.