Joe (El Abd) Blogs: 'Gym-monkeys, IPGs and the pain of being sidelined by injury'

Toulon flanker and FRC columnist Joe El Abd this week gives an inside view of what it's like being in the 'IPG' and how professional rugby players can't possibly operate at 100% for an entire season.

I didn’t manage to write my blog last week because I was simply too busy! I was too busy because after getting injured against Perpignan I had to go into our Injured Player Group, or IPG as it is also known.

If you ask any player what is the worst part of being a professional rugby player I think that injury would come pretty high on the list. Injuries are frustrating on many levels not least because they stop you from doing what you like doing best, which is playing matches at weekends.

But what injuries also mean is that on entering the IPG your days get a lot longer and you have to work that much harder. This is because in addition to conditioning work, meetings and watching training you also have to fit physio, massage and numerous rehab sessions into the day as well. At some point of course it is also important to rest! So anyone thinking injured players are having a holiday – think again. Players are always working to get back on the field as quickly as possible, it's in our interests to do so as it means we get out of the IPG and back playing the game we love!

Upon moving to a new country there is always a worry about how you will be treated if you get injured but I must say that any fears have been allayed as I have found the medical care here in France to be fantastic. Much like in the UK you are sent for investigations straight away and soon put on a rehabilitation program back to fitness. This is so important when you are injured as knowing what is wrong and how you can get better takes a lot of the early frustration out of the injury process.

Patience for patients

Here at Toulon we have three full-time physios/osteopaths, one full-time masseur and a sports doctor who is at training everyday so nothing is left to chance. We also have three strength and conditioning professionals who like nothing more than putting us through our paces. There are some differences to the UK but these mainly reside in the administration department and, of course, you have to wait a lot longer in waiting rooms for appointments. After all it is France and patience is a virtue!

The subject of injury has been a hot topic in the media lately as it robbed Martin Johnson of nearly half of his first XV during the recent internationals. What I also found interesting were the comments made by Simon Shaw in his recent biography on the subject of injury. The comments were made regarding the ever-growing gym culture and the drive for rugby players to become ‘gym monkeys’ as part of the reason for the high number of injuries within the sport. Injuries are certainly a problem that is currently being tackled within our sport and I think there are many contributing factors – not least because of the physical nature of the game. However I think Shaw has a point, while training certainly needs to work to improve the strength and speed of players there also needs to be a focus on reducing the injury potential of players. I don’t think there is a need to spend less time in the gym just that we need to spend the time more wisely.

I also agree with Shaw’s other comments that it is impossible to keep the body at peak state for the duration of a long season. I think if teams try to keep their players performing at 100% throughout the season it is inevitable that they will break down at some point. A more sensible approach is maybe to keep players playing at 85% of their capacity through the whole season, peaking towards the end. In this regard you could say that professionalism, due to the extended season it brings, works against outstanding performance but that is another topic completely.

I am going to have to leave you there as I have another rehab session that I’ve got to fit into the day. As they say no rest for the wicked!

A bientot

Previous columns:
04.11.09 - Star turns and the glamour play - how to judge a performance
27.10.09 - Why I relish the role of 'gratteur', and the key to back row success
21.10.09 - 'My brothers think I'm mad when they see all my rugby scars'
07.10.09 - 'I keep telling them Rovigo is not Rome, but they're still excited'
28.09.09 - 'The three-part conundrum of winning away in France'
22.09.09 - 'There's more to Jonny than just kicking'
14.09.09 - Lesson number 1 - 'Pas de melée, pas de victoire' 
08.09.09 - 'The money's good, but so is the weather, the rugby and the crowds'