Best Irish Rugby Players of All Time: Our Ultimate XV 2000-2024

Posted on April 6, 2023 at 2:07 pm.

Irish rugby is flying high right now, so it gave us the idea to try and put together our Ultimate XV of the best Irish rugby players of all time.

And we can say right now that it was NOT easy. So to narrow down the selection we’ve only selected players from the year 2000 to now.

As Official Retail Partners of the IRFU, we love our rugby so we said we would give it a crack to stir up some debate.

We’ve had to make some difficult decisions that we know some of you will disagree with – but isn’t that what sport is about?

Let us know you’d pick.

Before we start, if you want to know more about the positions, check out our Blog on the Guide to Rugby Positions Explained.

But back to the team, and without further ado…

Best Irish Rugby Players Of all time: XV

1 Cian Healy (Loosehead Prop)

Appearances: 123

Tries: 11

Healy has brought longevity, resilience, determination and consistency to the Irish number one jersey like no one else.

The former Leinster star was, at one stage, the best loosehead in the world and was instrumental in Ireland winning four Six Nations he was involved in.

Battled back from some bad injuries throughout his career too, including one that robbed him of a Lions test jersey.

Healy is our first pick.

2 Keith Wood (Hooker)

Appearances: 58

Tries: 15

The difficult decisions start here, and we know that Rory Best will be many people’s option here.

Both former captains, with Best representing Ireland much more than Wood. However, we feel Wood, at his peak, was untouchable.

Winning the inaugural World Rugby Player of the Year would suggest that too, as would his sensational displays for the British and Irish Lions during his five tests.

He was a physical powerhouse, yet was intelligent and incredibly skilful too.

3 Tadhg Furlong (Tighthead Prop)

Appearances: 64*

Tries: 5*

There is a lot of competition for this place and the likes of John Hayes and Mike Ross can feel hard done by, but Furlong just offers something different.

What gives Furlong the nod is his all-round game and his ability to offer much more to the team than any other tighthead prop can.

The Leinster man has enjoyed two tours with the Lions, won two Grand Slams with Ireland, scored some memorable tries against the likes of New Zealand and is an driving force.

He still has much more to write in his history book too.

4 Paul O’Connell (Second Row)

Appearances: 108

Tries: 8

Absolutely no debating this one.

The Munster hero was an inspiration captain for Ireland and the Lions during his career.

Prolific in the line out and never took a step back breaking lines, O’Connell is a true Irish rugby great.

5 Donncha O’Callaghan (Second Row)

Appearances: 94

Tries: 1

O’Callaghan had to beat off some competition to partner his Munster teammate O’Connell in the second row, but we think he deserves the nod.

Definitely understated by many in his ability in the lineout and the Irish pack, he was also part of two British and Irish Lions tours.

A heroic figure on his day, if you were going to war you would certainly want his beside you.

6 Peter O’Mahony (Blindside Flanker)

Appearances: 94*

Tries: 3

The flankers was probably the most competitive area of the field to pick and we didn’t make this decision lightly.

But you can’t ignore the influence Peter O’Mahoney has on Ireland and how they’ve climbed to the very top of World Rugby in recent years.

He beats off competition from the great Sean O’Brien, Stephen Ferris and David Wallace too and we feel it is warranted.

He can play anywhere in the back-row too, the Munster man makes things look easy when he’s on-song.

7 Josh Van der Flier (Openside Flanker)

Appearances: 50*

Tries: 10*

This might be a slightly controversial pick too, but what Van der Flier has done in his only 50 appearances is massive.

One of the few Irish players named as World Rugby Player of the Year, Van der Flier is a key cog in the wheel of Andy Farrell’s side right now.

Known as ‘The Dutch Disciple’, if Ireland are to push on in 2023 and make a serious challenge at winning the World Cup, Van der Flier will be one of the most important influences in the team.

8 Jamie Heaslip (Number 8)

Appearances: 95

Tries: 13

Three Heineken Champions Cups and three Six Nations championships makes it hard to ignore Heaslip.

Throw in two World Player of the Year nominations too.

His 2009 performances, especially that try against France at Croke Park, were second only to the great Brian O’Driscoll, and his all-round game ticked all the boxes.

9 Conor Murray (Scrum Half)

Appearances: 105*

Tries: 100 points

Peter Stringer can feel hard done by, but Murray was a different class on his day.

He could pass like the very best, but his box-kicking was where he excelled and where Irish teams became such a threat.

Was the best in the world at one stage, and while his form has dipped in recent years and not recovered to the levels where he was at, he’s still worthy on inclusion.

10 Johnny Sexton (Captain, Fly Half)

Appearances: 113*

Tries: 1050 points

Some might think this position is up for discussion with The Great ROG v Sexton debate, but not for us.

Sexton is up there in the very highest of echelons of Irish rugby, potentially our greatest ever. The only debate we will have on Sexton is him versus O’Driscoll.

O’Gara, of course, will be popular with some. And there’s an argument to say he was the better kicker of the two.

But Sexton is world class in every single part of his game and to continue that level into his late 30s is truly special.

11 Denis Hickie (left Wing)

Appearances: 62

Tries: 29

Hickie had some serious competition from flyer Keith Earls, but the former’s try-rate gives him the nod.

Nearly a try every second game, Hickie could tackle every bit as impressively and he could score.

The Leinster star was electric, exciting, and reliable.

12 Gordan D’Arcy

Appearances: 63*

Tries: 10*

Alongside BOD, D’Arcy completed the world’s best centre partnership at one stage in his career.

He worked super well alongside O’Driscoll because of his defensive abilities, which unlocked his partner on cutting open defences occasion after occasion.

Had an absolute tireless work rate that often went unnoticed, D’Arcy was an unsung hero and his efforts warranted more silverware than he got.

13 Brian O’Driscoll (Outside Centre)

Appearances: 133

Tries: 46

The easiest selection of the day.

We may be biased, but we think O’Driscoll is the greatest outside centre to every play the game.

The Leinster legend and former Lions captain, he scored 46 tries in 133 appearances for Ireland – the eighth highest in international rugby history.

He was beautifully skilful, fearless in the tackle and could create moments of absolute magic out of nowhere and in the smallest of gaps.

14 Tommy Bowe (Right Wing)

Appearances: 69

Tries: 30

Injuries curtailed the longevity of his career and you could only wonder what Tommy Bowe might have achieved if he didn’t have them.

But when in full flight he was a joy to watch and 30 tries in 69 games is some going.

Bowe certainly wasn’t appreciated for what he was doing at the time, but looking back the former Ulster flier was a real big-game player.

15 Rob Kearney (Full Back)

Appearances: 95 caps for Ireland (retired in 2020)

Tries: 13

Another one of the easier picks.

Kearney revolutionised the full back jersey for Ireland and is the most decorated in the history of Irish rugby.

Unbelievable under a high ball and complimented with powerful ball-carrying, Kearney was a gem.

https://www.offtheball.com/rugby/opinion-irelands-greatest-xv-professional-era-1007675

Conclusion

Well, what do you think?

We’re really curious to hear your opinions on who should be in the best Irish rugby players of all time.

Because there’s a lot of lads who were so close to making the cut.

If you’re looking for Irish rugby gear, they look no further than below.

**Stat was correct at time of writing and may have changed since**

How to pick the right Kids Rugby Boots

Posted on July 13, 2022 at 1:01 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

Are you looking to find the right pair of kids rugby boots for your child or children?

The new season is just upon us so knowing what to buy is important.

As Official Sports Retailer of the IRFU, we love our rugby, so that’s why we’ve created this guide to picking the right kids rugby boots for you.

We’ll discuss what features to look out for, sizing, some of the brands, tips on measuring feet and also answer ‘can kids wear soccer boots for rugby?’.

Kids Rugby Boots: Features

Making sure your kids rugby boots have some important features can really help your child, as well as saving you money.

Things to look out for:

Studs

Because of a lot of amateur rugby is played during the Autumn/Winter, the ground tends to be mucky and slippy.

So making sure your child has good traction is essential.

For soft ground, your child will need at least six metal studs, which help in transitions, scrums, breakdowns and more.

Rugby boots have a longer stud than soccer or football boots too, which is what sets them apart.

Mesh Lining

A mesh lining makes sure your little one’s feet can breathe while a one piece high scuff resistant PU upper provides essential durability and abrasion resistance to last then through a long rugby season.

Shock attenuating properties help to reduce strain to their lower limbs so they can always play at maximum power with less risk of injury.

Cushioning

There is a lot of potential for strain to ankles in rugby, so plenty of cushioning will provide ample protection.

It will also ensure maximum comfort for your child.

Style

There’s quite the different in requirements for backs and forwards in rugby, so their boots vary too.

For example, backs will prefer a lighter, more nimble boot to focus on speed and footwork.

Forwards will need a tougher, more secure boot with protection and grip in abundance.

Kids Rugby Boots: Sizing

Rugby boots should be as snug without contacting the toes as possible at the foot’s end.

Women’s sizing, on the other hand, differs from conventional shoe sizing and is roughly one and a half sizes smaller. For instance, a woman wearing a size 9 regular shoe should wear a size 7.5 rugby boot.

The size of the person’s feet will determine the boot size that is selected. But when purchasing rugby boots, a 1-inch space between the foot and the boot is excellent.

Rugby boots come in a variety of sizes, from junior to adult. Please compare the size charts provided with the specific items.

The same applies to kids.

Can kids wear football boots in rugby?

In a nutshell: yes.

Football boots are constructed with speed and agility in mind, whereas rugby boots are made with the need for power and stability in mind.

As a result, rugby boots are frequently bigger, have elevated heels, have more and larger studs, and have an ankle cut that is higher.

However, there are also a few more complex points to consider. Football boots are frequently worn by rugby backs players because their positions call for a lot of agility and kicking.

This explains why some rugby players favour football boots.

For rugby forwards, whose needs are extremely different, this is less true.

Consider the force and weight that a front row forward experiences when in a scrum.

It is crucial that they have a solid foundation from which to push, which is why they need bigger boots with more and larger studs than soccer boots.

How to measure kids feet?

If you’re not sure how to measure your kids’ feet at home, we can help.

Check out this blog on how to do it.

Or call in-store where our Sports Advisors will only be delighted to help.

Conclusion

We hope this guide helped your journey in finding the right kids rugby boots.

We’ve got some amazing offers from all the top brands on our site.

Check them out below.

Jersey Print | Personalisation at Intersport Elverys

Posted on November 24, 2021 at 1:00 pm.

Written by Intersport Elverys

Are you interested in getting your favourite football player’s and number printed on your personalised jersey?

Intersport Elverys can do just that, available in select stores and online. We’ve got all the best Premier League jersey print for you – so what are you waiting for?

Get your hero or your child’s hero emblazoned on the back of your favourite jersey right now and stand out from crowd.

Check out our huge range of Football Jerseys HERE – all available with print.

We’ve more details on what stores provide the service below.

We also provide a custom embroidery service, check it out HERE.

Jersey Print: Where can I get it?

Jersey print and personalisation is available in Intersport Elverys in select stores only and online.

For teamwear, our graphic design and printing department can help you create the football team jerseys and uniforms you have in mind. Choose from dozens of stock designs for team names, numbers, player names and mascots (10 characters maximum and 2 digits maximum).

For personal wear, decorate your own jersey with your favourite player’s number and name or even put your own name on it!

We can also accommodate all novelty tee printing should you require.

Ask in store for details or ring our Printwear department on +353 (0)94 9020317 We can also do this online when you purchase a new jersey on our website.

Stores with Irish Rugby Jersey Print

Galway Retail Park,
Dublin Suffolk St, Henry St and Dundrum

Stores with Printers

Dublin, Fonthill
Dublin, Swords
Dublin, Dundrum
Dublin, Suffolk Street
Dublin, Henry Street
Athlone, Golden Island
Mullingar, Lakepoint
Arklow, Bridgewater
Galway Retail Park
Thurles, Shopping Centre
Sligo, Johnston Court
Castlebar, Bridge Street
Limerick, Crescent Shopping Center
Kilkenny – Parliament Street
Cork, Oliver Plunkett Street

Online Jersey Print & Personalisation

To get your jersey personalised online, just follow the steps below:

– Go to the Intersport Elverys website HERE.

– Head to the football section and select the jersey you want personalised.

– First, select your jersey size.

– Then select the button that says “PERSONALISE THIS PRODUCT”.

– A pop up will appear. This is where you enter the name you want on the jersey (max 10 characters) and the number (max 6 digits).

– When finished, select “Confirm and add cost to total”.

– You will then need to checkout and pay for your purchase.

– Finally, enjoy!

**Important – You must be purchasing a new jersey, to avail of online personalisation.

Conclusion

If you love your football, then you’ll love a customised jersey.

At Intersport Elverys, we’ve got every jersey from all the top teams around the world.

Don’t miss out.

Shop football at Intersport Elverys HERE.

Top Tips from the Connacht Rugby Team

Posted on October 11, 2021 at 1:55 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

As Official Sports Partners of the Connacht Rugby team, Intersport Elverys recently got exclusive access to some of their star players ahead of the new season.

Kieran Marmion, John Porch and Tom Farrell have all established themselves in the famous green jersey having moved here from various times and shared their top tips to success just for you.

We’ve also featured Connacht Rugby’s Jack Carty, who showed us his secrets to kicking success.

Before we start, you can check out our latest Connacht Rugby Team ranges here.

And if you want to get to know more about the Connacht Women’s Rugby team, you can read that HERE.

Introducing the Connacht Rugby Team

Kieran Marmion

A native of Wales, the 29 year-old has played his international rugby with Ireland since his teens and made his full debut in 2014.

The scrum half got called up to the Irish U-20 team through the Irish Exiles programme before signing for the Connacht Academy in 2011.

In 2014 he made his senior International debut, coming off the bench against Argentina and has been a regular in the Connacht side.

John Porch

The Australian native caught the eye of Andy Friend when he was Head Coach of the Australia Sevens team in 2016.

In his first nine appearances for Australia, Porch scored 96 points and earned a place at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. In the 2017/18 World Series he went on to score an impressive 28 tries throughout the competition.

After signing 2019/20, Porch has developed into an exciting full back and has plenty to offer Connacht going forward.

Tom Farrell

The 28 year-old centre signed for Connacht in 2017 after a stint with Bedford Blues in the Championship in England.

The former Irish U-20 star broke onto the scene in the Leinster Academy in 2013/14. before making overseas to the England in 2016.

The Dublin native has started the 2021 season with a bang and is keen to press on after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Zebre in 2019.

Connacht Rugby Team’s Top Tips for Playing

Kieran Marmion

“My Top Tip for play as a scrum half is to practice, practice, practice on the basics of the game – the catching, the throwing and the kicking.”

John Porch

“My Top Tip to play as a full back is to be consistent under the high ball and on your kicking and catch-pass.”

Tom Farrell

“My Top Tip for being a professional rugby player is to always believe in yourself back your ability. You’re in that environment for a reason, so remember that, and always believe in yourself.”

What Advice Would You Give to your Teenage Self?

Kieran Marmion

“My advice is to just enjoy the game and keep working hard.”

John Porch

“The advice I would give to my teenage self or an aspiring Connacht Rugby player is to enjoy the game you play and any set backs you might get, keep striving and keep believing in yourself.”

Tom Farrell

“The piece of advice I would give is to play to your strengths and keep practicing your point of difference.”

Best Thing About Playing for the Connacht Rugby Team

Kieran Marmion

“The most enjoyable aspect of playing with Connacht is definitely playing with your friends and playing in big games in the Sportsground.”

John Porch

“My favourite thing is getting out there and trying to improve yourself in training every single day.”

Tom Farrell

“Definitely running out in the full Sportsground or packed out stadium with your friends and family in the crowd.”

Favourite Part of Training

Kieran Marmion

“A game of touch in the sun, definitely.”

John Porch

“A foot race against Tiernan O’Halloran!”

Tom Farrell

“Back line versus back line, attack and defence.”

If you enjoyed reading some of the Connacht Rugby Team Top Tips and advice, check out our Connacht ranges below.

Rugby Positions Explained: The Definitive Guide

Posted on July 8, 2021 at 10:35 am.

Written by Ger Flanagan

Do you love the game of rugby, but aren’t fully sure of how rugby positions work? Well don’t worry, because you’re not the only one.

That’s why we’ve written this Ultimate Guide: Rugby Positions Explained, so you’ll know all the ins and outs of the various rugby positions.

Rugby is a game that boasts players of all shapes and sizes, so we’ll also explain the different physical and technical attributes needed for each position.

Sounds good?

Before we start, below is how each position looks as it lines up on the pitch.

Befoure you read on, you might like out All Time Irish Rugby XV – it’s pretty controversial!

If not, then let’s get into the nitty and gritty.

Rugby Positions Explained: Loose-head and tight-head props (1 & 3)

Positioned either side of the hooker, the loose-head and tight-head props make up the front row, a reference to their positions in the scrum. These need to be extremely powerful from their legs to their neck and love physical confrontation.

In the scrum, props will attempt to propel their side of the scrum forward while also supporting the hooker’s body weight as they try to win the all. While in lineouts, props need to be powerful enough to lift the jumper to win possession.

In open play, props will help secure the ball when a player is tackled, so they still need to be mobile, despite their big frames, while they’re also expected to gain hard yards and occupy defenders.

Ireland’s Tadgh Furlong (in shot) made some eye-catching displays recently, while another well-known prop is England’s Mako Vunipola.

Rugby Positions Explained: Hooker

The hooker lines up in the scrum between the two props and they will coordinate the timing while also trying to win possession by hooking the ball back through the props’ legs.

At lineout time, the prop will deliver the ball to their teammates, so an ability to be accurate and calm under pressure is vital. During open play, the hooker will do the ‘dirty work’, just like the props, winning possession and taking ‘crash’ passes.

When you think of hookers, you think of New Zealand’s Dane Stuart Coles, Wallabies Brandon Paenga Amosa or England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie (pictured).

Rugby Positions Explained: Second rows (4 & 5)

Also known as ‘locks’, the second rows are the driving force of the scrum and the ball-winners in the lineout. They’re generally tall, powerful and very technically gifted players.

Over time their role has evolved from being support players in rucks, to ball carriers, tacklers and try scorers.

England’s Maro Itoje (below), South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth and Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones (below) are among the most formidable in World Rugby.

Rugby Positions Explained: Flankers (6 & 7)

Otherwise known as wing forwards, flankers need to be extremely well rounded in speed, stamina, strength, tackling and ball handling.

These players will find themselves at the centre of the action more than most more often that not, they can be the difference between winning and losing.

Open-side flanker operates on the far side of the scrum from the touchline and is often smaller and more nimble than their blind-side partner, who has the more physical role.

Former New Zealand great Richie McCaw (pictured) was one the greatest to ever play the game, while current stars include Wales Sam Warburton and Michael Hooper of Australia.

Rugby Positions Explained: Number Eight (8)

The number eight will play a very similar role to the flankers; supporting play, tackling and carrying ball. The trio can also be referred to as the back row.

The number eight binds at the back of the scrum and is also the only player from the forwards who is allowed to pick the ball up from the base of the scrum, which is often a move used to gain important yards when scrummaging close to the line.

Saying that, number eights need to be an explosive and dynamic ball carrier and Ireland’s Caelan Doris (pictured) has begun to establish himself as a real star of the future, taking over the reins from CJ Stander (also pictured). While South Africa’s Duane Vermeulen was voted the best number eight in the world last year.

Rugby Positions Explained: Scrum-half (9)

This player will be responsible for linking play between the forwards and the backs and is a hugely important position. Lining up just behind the forwards, a scrum-half will control possession from scrums, rucks or mauls.

They need vision, communication skills, speed and awareness, quick hands and a physical edge, because they can often be the smallest player on the field and are open to tackles from rampaging flankers.

Some of the world’s best include Lions captain Conor Murray (above), New Zealand’s Aaron Smith, France’s Antoine Dupont and South Africa’s Faf de Klerk (above).

Rugby Positions Explained: Fly-half (10)

Arguably the most influential player on the rugby field because almost every attack will go through the fly half.

A number 10 has the sole responsibility of deciding whether to kick or pass, must orchestrate the back line, decide on plays and more often than not is the team’s kicker for penalties, conversions and drop goal attempts.

When you think of instrumental fly-halfs, you think of Johnny Sexton & Owen Farrell (pictured), Dan Biggar and Johnny Wilkinson to name a few.

Rugby Positions Explained: Wing (11 & 14)

Remember Jonah Lomu from New Zealand?

The late New Zealand winger was virtually unstoppable at the peak of his powers, but he was an exception. Standing 6’5 and weighing up to 120kg, he would put the fear into any tackler.

Wingers like Lomu were the team’s finisher and are also the last line of defence, so pace is a huge factor, along with strength and agility.

Lomu possessed it all in abundance and his best bits are worth checking out on Youtube.

Rugby Positions Explained: Centre (12 & 13)

The inside centre – who stands closest to the fly-half when the backs line up – and the outside centre tend to be strong, dynamic runners with a good eye for exposing gaps in the opposition defence. In attack they tend to run very direct lines.

The inside centre is often the more creative in a centre pairing and should be able to pass and kick nearly as well as the fly-half. Meanwhile, the outside centre tends to be the faster of the two and the ability to offload the ball quickly to the wingers is also vital.

Ireland and Lions stars Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki (above) are the current stars, while former legend Brian O’Driscoll is often regarded as the best ever.

Rugby Positions Explained: Full-back

Lining up behind the entire back line, the fullback is the closest thing that rugby has to a sweeper in defence. But they also receive deep kicks from the opposition, so they must be comfortable catching high balls and launching attacks from the resulting possession.

This high-pressure rugby positions is not for the faint-hearted, but those who can combine tackling, kicking, catching and running with a cool head can excel here.

Think Scotland’s Stuart Hogg (pictured) or All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie.

Conclusion

We hope this blog will have helped to inform you on rugby positions, what is needed to play them and the players who are amongst the world’s best at doing so.

As always, let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

Plus, we’ve got all your rugby needs, such as the top brands and advice on our website below.

Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Best Football Boots

Posted on March 1, 2019 at 10:45 am.

Written by Intersport Elverys

Here at Elverys, we pride ourselves on having a wide range of football boots from all the top brands to suit everyone. Whether you play football, GAA, or rugby, we will have something to suit your needs.

Having all the key information is vital when you are considering which are the best football boots for you.

Elverys has you covered if you need to get the perfect fit, too.

We offer a comprehensive foot measuring service in-store for adults and kids, to ensure that the football boot you pick fits like a sock. If you’d rather shop from home, we also have a comprehensive guide on how to measure your feet correctly yourself!

Below is all the information you need when selecting which football boots are best for yourself or your kids.

If you already know what size and shape you are, you don’t want to miss our Ultimate Footbal Boot Review Guide for 2024 here!

Football Boot Types

It matters what pitch you typically play on when it comes to choosing the right football boot.

Whether you play on firm ground, soft ground, or Astroturf, we’ve got a comprehensive guide to choosing the best football boots for that surface.

Firm Ground (FG) Boots

Firm ground football boots are the most popular boot type sold.

They are designed to give maximum grip and comfort on natural grass pitches in dry to slightly wet conditions. These are perfect for summer when the ground is dry and firm, or even in winter when pitches tend to freeze over.

Players often ask if they can use firm ground football boots on Astroturf? The simple answer – Yeah, you definitely can!

While Astroturf boots are best for, well, Astroturf (more on that a minute), firm ground boots can get the job done. Especially if you play on firm ground more often and only need them for Astroturf every once in a while.

Firm ground boots usually have moulded studs -perfect for use on hard or dry surfaces. The studs are strategically placed to help relieve stud pressure on the foot.

With firm ground boots, studs come in all sizes, shapes, and patterns.

Two of the most popular stud types are conical and bladed.

Conical studs offer more mobility and quicker releases from the ground.
Bladed studs offer better traction because of a larger surface area.

Soft Ground (SG) Boots

Soft ground boots have aluminum studs in order to grip wet and muddy grass surfaces. They’re actually ideal for use in Ireland due to the unpredictability of the weather, and many grass surfaces stay soft all year round.

With soft ground football boots, there are two different kinds of stud configuration — the traditional 6-stud configuration and the modern mixed sole configuration.

The traditional 6-stud configuration uses 2 metal studs at the rear of the boot and 4 at the toe of the boot. For a long time, this was the best pattern for total traction on a soggy pitch. But the trade-off was the stud pressure it caused because of the distribution and the smaller number of studs.
The modern mixed sole configuration takes the standard firm ground sole plate and mixes in interchangeable metal studs to create even better traction and grip. Plus, it adds more comfort than the 6-stud configuration because the studs are more evenly placed!

Astroturf Boots

(alt-text: Football players playing on astroturf pitch with astroturf football boots.)

Can you use football boots on astroturf? Absolutely! Especially if you snag football boots designed specifically for astroturf.

Astroturf boots usually have a lower profile to keep you closer to the ground to prevent slipping on the turf. These are usually more cushioned than traditional firm ground and soft ground football boots.

They’re perfect for anyone playing five-a-side football with their friends. And they’re great for kids who play outdoors because they withstand a lot of wear and tear.

Other Considerations When Buying the Best Football Boots

Other than the type of football boot, there are a couple of other things you should consider.

How Wide Should Football Boots Be?

Most boots are made for standard-width feet, but some are made with wide or narrow feet in mind. If you’ve got a narrow or wide foot, make sure you get a football boot that’s tailored to your size. Find what fits your foot best.

What is the Best Weight for Your Football Boots?

Make sure the weight of the boot is suited for you and the position you play. If you rely on speed for your position, you may want to go with a lighter boot. But if you’re playing a defending position, you can get away with a slightly heavier one.

How Tight Football Boots Should Be

As you’re trying out new football boots, you’ll probably wonder just how tight football boots should be. Your football boots shouldn’t be tight so much as snug. You want to make sure your new boots aren’t cutting off your circulation, but you don’t want them to be slipping around your ankles, either.

A snug (not tight) football boot means you have some room to wiggle your toes, but not enough room that you feel like you’re falling out of them.

What Features Do My Football Boots Need?

Can the boot do something extra for you and your match? Do you need more control, and does it offer that? Do you need more intensity in your shooting, and does it help you with that? Figure out what features will help you based on your position, and find a boot that helps you do it!

What’s The Difference Between P1, P2, and P3 Football Boots?

P1 = top end on field boots worn by Nike and Adidas sponsored athletes
P2 = mid-level top end club player
P3 = entry level / part time player

What to Know When Buying Football Boots

Once you’ve considered which football boots are best for you, it’s time to get to buying. When you start the process of buying your next pair of football boots, it can be easy to get carried away and rush through the process.

So, to help you keep a level head while you pick out your next pair, we’ve got more advice to keep in mind.

Get a Boot That is Durable and Long Lasting

Make sure you get a pair that is durable and will last a long time through normal wear and tear, especially if you play often!

Don’t Buy The Coolest or The Most Colourful Pair You Can Find

The football boots that look the coolest are always tempting to buy. If you look better, you play better, right? Uh, no. Not necessarily true. Those boots might be the nicest on the pitch, but if they don’t meet your needs as a player, don’t buy them!

Get The Right Ones For Your Specific Position

Different positions will have different needs and features when it comes to football boots. Don’t snag a pair that’s made for strikers if you don’t play that position. You’ll need something geared more to what you do play. Find the right boots for what you play on the pitch so you can get the most out of them.

Don’t Just Buy What Everyone Else Has

Buy what’s best for you and what feels the most comfortable to you, even if your mates have something (or recommend something) completely different. Ultimately, you’re the one playing in them — not anyone else. Find what feels best for you!

Trust The Process and Don’t Rush Into Buying A Pair

Keep doing your research and trust the process of finding the right football boots for you and how you play. It’s easy to rush and buy the first pair you see or the ones that look the coolest. But if it doesn’t feel right, or even if you’re having trouble finding the right pair, the worst thing you can do is rush it and buy ones that don’t fit your needs.

No matter what type you need, we have a wide range for you to choose from.

And now that you have the information you need to find the best football boots for you, go ahead and buy your perfect pair!

Conclusion

Shop the full range of football boots at Intersport Elverys HERE.