Rugby Psychology

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Session Notes The Record-Breaker
Addressing:

Pre-Match Nerves

The overwhelming anxiety that builds before games, particularly prevalent in rugby where players know physical confrontation is guaranteed. As one player described: "The thing I enjoy most triggers my anxiety", loving the sport yet dreading the build-up, sometimes to the point of nausea, sleep disruption, or wanting to withdraw entirely.

How Record-Breakers Can Overcome Pre-Match Nerves in Rugby

Posted on December 9, 2025 ~ min read
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For: The Record-Breaker athletes in Rugby
Focus: Session Notes - Pre-Match Nerves
Read Time: ~8 min
Session Notes December 9, 2025
Profile: The Record-Breaker
Sport: Rugby
Challenge: Pre-Match Nerves

Pre-match nerves in rugby refers to the anxiety and physical tension that builds before kickoff, when players know physical confrontation is coming. For The Record-Breaker iconThe Record-Breaker (ESTA), this challenge hits differently. In this article, you'll learn the exact protocol to overcome pre-match nerves by working with your analytical nature rather than fighting against it.

The typical advice sounds familiar. Deep breaths. Think positive. Trust your training. For athletes driven by external achievement and tactical preparation, this generic guidance falls flat. The anxiety persists because standard approaches ignore how externally motivated, self-referenced competitors actually process pressure.

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Vladimir Novkov

M.A. Social Psychology | ISSA Elite Trainer | Expert in Sport Psychology for Athlete Development

My mission is to bridge the gap between mind and body, helping athletes and performers achieve a state of synergy where peak performance becomes a natural outcome of who they are.

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