A study has revealed that the two types of video that best motivate rugby players before games are porn and UFC.
The Times reports that an experiment “involving 12 professionals from a top English rugby union team” was designed to see what pre-match stimulation could improve performances.
The study found that players who watched four minutes of erotic dancing or four minutes of a UFC fight had higher testosterone levels afterwards and performed better in strength-conditioning exercises.
The study, which will be published in the journal Hormones and Behaviour, tested the saliva of the players afterwards and players who watched erotic, humorous, aggressive and training videos had higher levels of testosterone than those who watched sad clips.
There was no mention of Mike Tindall or some of the other stars of England’s World Cup travails but we can only imagine they would approve of such pre-match routines.
During the ill-fated trip to New Zealand for Martin Johnson’s side James Haskell, Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Nick Easter and Alex Corbisiero all acknowledged how they enjoyed watching UFC fights. (Like this? Or maybe this one? – Ed) None of them admitted to watching any erotic stuff though.
And as for our lads, well it is up to new Irish captain Paul O’Connell now to decide whether he puts Braveheart into the DVD player on the bus or something a little more adult.
You now have the science to back it up Paul.
