Rugby is a physical and demanding sport that can take a toll on the body. However, the mental game of rugby is just as important as the physical game and can sometimes be more challenging than the physical aspect.
According to rugbytoolbox.co.nz, physical skills, physical fitness, and mental skills are the building blocks of a complete athlete who is capable of putting on spectacular sporting displays.
Because many athletes have similar physical talents at the highest levels of competition, the difference between a great performance and a decent one, or between winning and losing, is frequently tied to mental abilities rather than physical abilities in high-level sports.
Therefore, at any level of competition, the psychological component can become a crucial factor in determining one's level of success.
For example, there are numerous instances in which a team of less (physically) skilled players has frequently triumphed over their more-skilled opponents because they were better mentally prepared or 'psyched up' for the game.
A good example of this was Mexico who won its first gold medal in soccer in its history, defeating Brazil 2-1 in the final of the London 2012 Olympics.
Mental skills training basically consists of a variety of methods and concepts that athletes can utilise to improve their mental focus while also improving their overall athletic performance, some of which we'll look at below.