Rugby Psychology

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Session Notes The Superstar
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 The Superstar Can Conquer Pre-Match Nerves in Rugby

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

In rugby, pre-match nerves describe the anxiety surge that builds before kickoff, when your body floods with adrenaline and your mind races through worst-case scenarios. For The Superstar iconThe Superstar (EORC), this anxiety carries a specific weight. Your external motivation means you measure yourself against opponents and teammates. Your collaborative nature means you feel responsible for everyone around you. Put these together before a match, and the pressure compounds fast.

You know physical collision is coming. You know your teammates are counting on you. You know the crowd will see every mistake. This combination creates a unique anxiety cocktail that affects externally motivated, opponent-focused athletes more intensely than others.

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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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