# Rugby Shoulder Pads & Body Armour ## Rugby Shoulder Pads at Rugbystuff.com Shoulder pads are worn under the [match shirt](https://www.rugbystuff.com/collections/rugby-shirts "Rugby Shirts") and provide impact protection across the shoulders, sternum and ribcage. They're popular with forwards who take repeated contact, players returning from shoulder injuries, women's players, and juniors playing their first contact rugby. All pads in this range comply with World Rugby regulations - no more than 10mm padding on the shoulders and 5mm elsewhere. ## Shoulder Pads vs Protection Vests Most of the products on this page are technically protection vests rather than traditional shoulder pads - they cover the shoulders, chest and upper back in a single fitted vest design. The terms are used interchangeably at club level. The [Body Armour](https://www.rugbystuff.com/collections/body-armour "Body Armour Rugby") Flexitop is the exception, using a more traditional saddle-style pad worn over the shoulders rather than a full vest. ## AC Joint Pads The [Propadz Gel](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/propadz-gel-shoulder-pads "ProPadz Vest") and [Propadz AC](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/propadz-ac-gel-rugby-shoulder-pads "ProPadz AC Vest") are specialist pads designed specifically for AC joint protection - the most common shoulder injury in rugby. The AC model targets the acromioclavicular joint directly and is widely used by players recovering from AC joint sprains or separations who need to keep playing. If you've had an AC joint injury, these are worth looking at before returning to contact training. ## Who Should Wear Rugby Shoulder Pads? Shoulder pads aren't mandatory - they're a personal choice under World Rugby regulations. They're most commonly worn by forwards who take repeated contact through the shoulder and upper body, junior players new to contact rugby, women's players, and anyone with a history of shoulder or AC joint injuries. Some backs wear lighter vests for chest and shoulder protection without the bulk. If you're not sure whether you need them, a lightweight vest from the [Canterbury](https://www.rugbystuff.com/collections/canterbury-rugby-kit "Canterbury Rugby Kit") or Body Armour range is a good starting point. ## Junior Rugby Shoulder Pads Most brands in the range carry junior sizing. Body Armour's Tech Vest and Kids Flexitop are the most popular junior options. Gilbert's XP100 Kids and Rhino's Kids Pro Vest cover the younger end of the age range. World Rugby regulations on pad thickness apply to all age groups. ## Women's Rugby Shoulder Pads Canterbury's Women's Pro Protection Vest and Gilbert's Women's Triflex Lite are cut specifically for female players. Both provide shoulder and chest protection in a vest design shaped for a closer, more comfortable fit. ## Products in this collection - [Propadz Gel Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/propadz-gel-shoulder-pads) - 109.99 GBP - [Propadz AC Gel Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/propadz-ac-gel-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 109.99 GBP - [Canterbury Elite Rugby Protection Vest Black](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/canterbury-elite-rugby-protection-vest-black) - 65.99 GBP - [Canterbury Core Rugby Protection Vest Black](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/canterbury-core-rugby-protection-vest-black) - 51.99 GBP - [Canterbury Pro Rugby Protection Vest Black](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/canterbury-pro-rugby-protection-vest-black) - 55.99 GBP - [Canterbury Kid's Rugby Protection Vest Black](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/canterbury-kids-rugby-protection-vest-black) - 39.99 GBP - [Canterbury Women's Pro Rugby Protection Vest Black](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/canterbury-womens-pro-rugby-protection-vest-black) - 55.99 GBP - [Gilbert XP1000 Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/gilbert-xp1000-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 84.99 GBP - [Gilbert XP500 Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/gilbert-xp500-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 79.99 GBP - [Gilbert Charger Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/gilbert-charger-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 64.99 GBP - [Gilbert XP100 Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/gilbert-xp100-rugby-protection-vest) - 44.99 GBP - [Gilbert XP1000 Kid's Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/gilbert-xp1000-kids-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 70.99 GBP - [Gilbert Charger Kid's Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/gilbert-charger-kids-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 53.99 GBP - [Gilbert XP100 Kid's Rugby Shoulder Pads](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/gilbert-xp100-kids-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 37.49 GBP - [Gilbert Women's Triflex Lite Rugby Protection Vest](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/gilbert-womens-triflex-lite-rugby-protection-vest) - 79.99 GBP - [Body Armour Flexitop](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/flexitop-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 39.99 GBP - [Body Armour Tech Vest](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/tech-vest-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 34.99 GBP - [Body Armour Kid's Flexitop](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/kids-flexitop-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 39.99 GBP - [Body Armour Kid's Tech Vest](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/kids-tech-vest-rugby-shoulder-pads) - 24.99 GBP - [Rhino Kid's Pro Rugby Protection Vest](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/rhino-kids-pro-rugby-protection-vest) - 34.99 GBP - [Rhino Men's Pro Rugby Protection Vest](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/rhino-mens-pro-rugby-protection-vest) - 39.99 GBP - [Boob Armour Sports Bra Protective Inserts](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/sports-bra-protective-inserts) - 9.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Black](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/forearm-protector) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Black Camo](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-black-camo) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Mid Blue](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-mid-blue) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Navy](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-navy) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Navy/Sky Camo](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-navy-sky-camo) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Neon Allsorts](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-neon-allsorts) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Pink Camo](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-pink-camo) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Red](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-red) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Red/Black Camo](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-red-black-camo) - 21.99 GBP - [Body Armour Rugby Forearm Protector Royal Blue](https://www.rugbystuff.com/products/body-armour-rugby-forearm-protector-royal-blue) - 21.99 GBP --- > Source: [Rugbystuff.com](https://www.rugbystuff.com/collections/rugby-shoulder-pads) > Updated: 2026-06-29