RugbyMed: Science of the Game

🏉 Temporada 2 – Episódio 6 Chegou a vez dos Bulldogs! O RugbyMed recebe Branquinho, capitão do Clube de Rugby São Miguel, um clube que tem crescido de forma impressionante e que hoje discute cada jogo de igual para igual com qualquer equipa de Lisboa. 🟦🐶 Falámos sobre a identidade única do São Miguel — o primeiro grande clube de Lisboa que não nasceu de uma universidade — e sobre a mistura de j...

🏉 Temporada 2 – Episódio 5 - Hoje viajamos até Lisboa para conversar com o Tomás Appleton, capitão do CDUL Rugby e uma das figuras maiores do rugby português. Falámos sobre liderança, o peso de ser capitão do CDUL — atual campeão da Taça de Portugal — e o impacto de ser também capitão da Seleção Nacional. 💙🏆Um episódio cheio de visão, experiência e a ambição de quem vive o rugby ao mais alto ní...

O RugbyMed vai até à planície alentejana falar com o Capitão do único representante da região na Divisão de Honra Nacional de Rugby.

Neste episódio, vamos até à invicta conversar com o capitão do CDUP Rugby Tomás Marrana!

O capitão do Santarém, recém-promovido à Divisão de Honra, conta-nos o que sentiu no momento do título do CN1 do ano passado e quais as suas expectativas para a nova época!

Capitão da AAC Rugby em entrevista ao RugbyMed.

In this episode of RugbyMed , hosts António Cruz Ferreira and Carlos Braga welcome international rugby referee Maria Heitor. As she prepares to make history as the first Portuguese referee at a Rugby World Cup in 2025, Maria shares insights into her journey from grassroots rugby to the global stage. She opens up about the emotional and physical challenges of recovering from a serious injury, the m...

In this episode, hosts António Cruz Ferreira and Carlos Braga welcome Dr. Alexandre Fernandes, a specialist in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine with a postgraduate degree in Sports Medicine. Dr. Fernandes shares insights from his career spanning football and rugby, including work with Casa Pia AC, the renowned Aspetar clinic in Qatar, and the Portuguese Rugby Federation. He reflects on his pro...

In this episode of RugbyMed, hosts António Cruz Ferreira and Carlos Braga sit down with 20-year-old Portuguese rugby sensation Manuel Vareiro. A rising star who has already left his mark on the Sevens World Circuit and debuted with the national XV side, Vareiro shares his journey from youth rugby to the international stage. The conversation explores his early influences, debut at the Sevens World...

In this deeply personal and powerful episode of RugbyMed: The Science of the Game, António and Carlos tackle one of the toughest topics in sport—mental health and suicide in rugby. Rugby is often seen as a game of grit, toughness, and unbreakable camaraderie. But beneath the surface, many players are struggling with pressures that no one talks about. From elite professionals to weekend warriors, t...

In this moving episode of RugbyMed – The Science of the Game, hosts António Cruz Ferreira and Carlos Braga sit down with one of Portugal’s most accomplished rugby players, Nuno Sousa Guedes. From his rise in the national team to his unforgettable appearance at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Nuno opens up about his journey through elite sport, resilience, and recovery. Listeners will hear about the brut...

Strap in for a no-nonsense, science-packed takedown of the biggest myths in rugby! 🏉💥In this special MythBusters edition of RugbyMed: The Science of the Game, António and Carlos go head-to-head with five of the most stubborn beliefs in the rugby world. Is rugby more dangerous than American football? Do biceps win games? And what about that sacred post-match beer—is it really helping your recover...

In a special and unprecedented episode, the RugbyMed and Placagem podcasts join forces to promote rugby in Portugal and across the Portuguese-speaking world! In this engaging conversation—entirely in Portuguese—António Cruz Ferreira and Carlos Braga (RugbyMed) team up with Cláudio Fonseca (Placagem) to discuss the sport’s growth, the challenges faced by players, the importance of physical preparat...

In this episode of the RugbyMed, hosts António Cruz Ferreira and Carlos Braga welcome João Costa, a former rugby player, referee, and now physiotherapist, to explore the intersection of rugby, refereeing, and player welfare. João shares insights from his unique journey through the sport—from playing on the field to officiating the game and now working behind the scenes to ensure athlete well-being...

Hosted by Carlos Braga and António Ferreira, this episode of RugbyMed takes you into the heart of the game through the eyes of one of the world’s top referees—Paulo Duarte. From the pressure of making split-second decisions to the mental resilience needed to handle the roar of the crowd, Paulo shares his journey from a young referee in Portugal to officiating on the biggest stages, including the O...

In this compelling episode of RugbyMed, hosts António Cruz Ferreira and Carlos Braga sit down with Dr. Kim Quigley, CEO of Onrise, and Will Hooley, Technical Director and Broadcaster at Major League Rugby, to explore the critical intersection of mental health and player welfare in North America’s premier rugby league. With Will’s experience both on and off the field—including his podcast The Next...

In this episode of RugbyMed: The Science of the Game, hosts Carlos Braga and António Cruz Ferreira explore key aspects of injury prevention in Rugby Union, focusing on the latest research and practical applications. They begin by analyzing a systematic review on hamstring injuries, discussing their prevalence, risk factors, and the effectiveness of Nordic hamstring exercises in reducing injury rec...

In this episode of RugbyMed: The Science of the Game, hosts Carlos Braga and António Cruz Ferreira explore the critical role of medical team positioning in professional rugby union. The discussion opens with updates on the Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification process, particularly Portugal’s bid for automatic entry, and the medical strategies employed to keep players in peak condition. The episode t...

In this inspiring episode of RugbyMed: The Science of the Game, hosts Carlos Braga and António Cruz Ferreira welcome Isabel Ozório, a standout player for Portugal's Women’s XV and 7s national teams. Isabel shares her rugby journey, from her early days in Portugal to playing professionally in France. She opens up about the challenges of growing women's rugby in a traditionally male-dominated sport,...

In this episode of RugbyMed: The Science of the Game, hosts António Cruz Ferreira and Carlos Braga welcome special guest Catarina Antunes, the team doctor for Portugal’s Women’s XV national rugby team, a former player, and a mother. Catarina shares her inspiring journey from player to medical professional, detailing her return to rugby after motherhood and her struggles with injury near the end of...

In Episode 2 of the RugbyMed podcast, António and Carlos are joined by esteemed rugby journalist Francisco Isaac for a compelling discussion on the media's role in injury reporting and its impact on the sport. Isaac explores the critical need for accurate and responsible communication between journalists, clubs, and medical departments to ensure player welfare remains a top priority. He delves int...

In the latest episode of the RugbyMed podcast, hosts António and Carlos welcome Portuguese rugby star José Lima for an engaging and insightful conversation. Lima opens up about his rigorous preparation routines and the challenges of recovering from injuries, sharing his candid experiences with concussions and their lasting impact on his mindset. Reflecting on his career, he discusses both the fear...

In this episode, Antonio and Carlos dive into two pivotal research papers that address key psychological and physiological aspects of professional rugby. The first paper explores the relationship between self-confidence, mental toughness, and psychobiosocial experiences in elite rugby players, shedding light on how these traits impact performance and resilience at the highest level of competition....