Rugby Mouthguards

Quick answer: a rugby mouthguard must stay in place while you run, tackle, ruck and communicate. For a young player or occasional play, a boil-and-bite model in the right size can be suitable. For a full season and repeated contact, a custom-fit model generally gives a more precise fit.

In this guide

1. Contact in rugby
2. Choosing by position
3. Young players and teeth
4. Fit and communication
5. Checks during the season

Why wear a mouthguard in rugby?

Rugby involves a lot of direct and indirect contact: tackles, falls, scrums, rucks and accidental collisions. Even when the face is not hit directly, the upper and lower teeth can be slammed together. A mouthguard, or gum shield, helps reduce the risk of injuries to the mouth and teeth, but it is no substitute for learning to tackle, playing by the rules or following the medical protocol after a blow.

World Rugby recommends wearing a mouthguard or dental protector. The exact requirements can depend on the age category and the organiser. Your club remains the best source for the rules that apply to your competition.

Does your position change the choice?

A forward may want excellent retention during set pieces and repeated efforts. A back also needs to be able to call, communicate and breathe during fast runs. These differences do not necessarily mean two different products: mainly, they shape how you test it. In every case, the mouthguard should not fall out when you give a call.

A boil-and-bite mouthguard (thermoformable, moulded at home in hot water) gets you equipped quickly when you are starting out or returning to the game. It must be moulded carefully, without crushing the walls. A custom-fit mouthguard becomes worthwhile for regular training and matches, or if a standard model moves despite several attempts.

Which mouthguard for a child or teenager?

Teeth and jaws change during growth, so the fit needs checking more often than for an adult. A model that has become tight, painful or hard to remove must not be forced. Ask a dentist for advice, particularly while baby teeth are being replaced.

With orthodontic braces, the space needed for tooth movement and the presence of brackets call for particular care. Do not use a rigid custom-fit mouthguard made for a previous position of the teeth without the orthodontist’s agreement. A model suitable for orthodontics may be needed.

Test fit, speech and breathing

Place the mouthguard on the upper arch, open your mouth and speak normally. Then do a few sprints and changes of direction. It should stay stable without you nibbling on it. A mouthguard that falls out in a calm test will be even harder to manage in the middle of a ruck.

The bulk must remain compatible with your comfort. A very thick model that does not stay in well is not automatically better than one that fits. The goal is a balance between material, coverage and tolerance throughout the session.

Looking after your mouthguard during the season

Rinse it after every training session, clean it gently, dry it and store it in a ventilated case. Keep it away from a car in the sun, a radiator or very hot water outside the moulding procedure. Inspect it after a heavy blow and at the start of each block of competition.

For team sports with intermittent contact, also see the handball and basketball guides.

Fit, care and ordering

Fit criteria, care and precautions (braces, growth, trauma) are explained in detail in the instructions, the dentist guide and the comparison.

In rugby, plan above all for tackles and communication: order early enough to test the fit over several training sessions, not the day before a match. Clubs can also read how to place a team order, the benefits of a club order and how to prepare the squad before the season.