SPORTS-NOV09-P20 Misuno:SGBGolf_NEW_template 16/11/2009 13:36 Page 20
Field Report
New Wave for Kennedy
England and London Irish second row giant Nick Kennedy is the
latest rugby union star to join Mizuno’s ranks. Here he talks
exclusively to Robin Barwick about his new shoes and a training
regime that features tobogganing, but tobogganing with a twist
T
obogganing on a snow-covered hillside is In terms of boots, Kennedy switches between in the scrum with a six-stud boot, and the extra
an age-old activity for all the family to enjoy Mizuno’s lightweight Morelia football boot and stud makes a big difference. I have always worn a
– until the frostbite kicks in of course - but the Wave Samurai rugby boot – which has an very light boot and the Wave Samurai is also very
tobogganing in the world of England rugby extra stud in the middle of the ball of the foot, light, very comfortable and durable.”
international Nick Kennedy is altogether more which Kennedy says provides excellent grip for “Our core rugby products are boots,” says John
gruelling, as he tells Sporting Goods Business scrummaging and tackling. Hooper, European promotions co-ordinator for
with relish when discussing his training regime. Mizuno. “We produce the best technical boots
“The toboggans we use have a spike on it so possible for all standards of player, from the
you can put weights on,” says Kennedy, a 6”8’ professional to the club player, and right down to
second row forward who weighs around 112 kg. kids. The Wave Samurai and the Timaru are our
“You wear a strap across your shoulders and off two best selling boots and they provide maximum
you go, with the toboggan dragging along support and comfort.”
behind you. It is a very good resistance exercise. Kennedy is one of over 100 professional players
It’s a power drill, so it’s short and sharp, and at in the Guinness Premiership and Magners League
London Irish we do it once a week. who are supported by Mizuno, the brand that has
past affiliations with both the All Blacks and
“
It is crucial you are
Wallabies.
wearing a well cushioned,
But the question that remains is that if the
toboggan drills aren’t dreadful for Kennedy, what
well-fitted shoe when you
is the toughest element of training for rugby at
are being lifted by a
the highest level?
“The painful bit is fitness conditioning,” admits
couple of guys who are
Kennedy, “when we have to do lots of downs
6’8”, who simply drop you
and ups, lots of running between cones – maybe
only 20 metres apart. Sprint, get down, get up,
at the top of the lift
”
sprint back, with lots of repetition and only short
breaks, and that can be very painful. We do loads
“We have races in twos normally to make sure of that work in pre-season, and normally once a
no-one is slacking off, and as we are all so week mid-season.”
competitive we all want to win every little challenge.
Hard to stop: Expect London Irish star Nick Kennedy to
Kennedy collected seven England caps last
I actually enjoy the races because whenever I go
feature in the England team this season
season, and the agile lock is in line to get another
against anyone else in the tight five at London Irish I chance this term. His speed on the pitch, over
always win! I am one of the quickest forwards at “Being a second row forward, a position where short distances and with very little recovery time,
Irish so the races are fine by me.” scrummaging is very important, I really like the and for which he is so well conditioned, will be
It all sounds very taxing, even if this exercise is extra stud in the Wave Samurai,” says Kennedy. one of Kennedy’s attributes that could earn him a
carried out on a slick surface of artificial turf, and “Basically, I don’t think you get enough purchase regular place in Martin Johnson’s team.
S
even if Kennedy is wearing his new Mizuno Wave
Creation trainers, built with what Mizuno www.mizuno.eu
describes as “maximum cushioning with a
Safe landing: The Wave Secret of seven:
luxurious fit and feel”. First-rate cushioning is vital
Creation’s cushioning is The Wave Samurai
for a rugby forward who is routinely launched into
critical for rugby players has an extra stud for
the air by a pair of similarly sized XXL teammates.
who weigh over 100kg extra purchase
“We do a lot of line-out training on Astroturf,”
explains Kennedy, “and it is crucial you are
wearing a well cushioned, well-fitted shoe when
you are being lifted by a couple of guys who are
6’8”, who simply drop you at the top of the lift.
You learn to take your trainers seriously when you
are landing from those heights on a regular basis,
but the Wave Creation is also a great shoe to cope
with the impact on your joints of simply running.”
20 SGB SPORT NOVEMBER 2009
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