▁length ▁and ▁ ▁in ▁circum ference ▁of ▁width . ▁Rugby ▁bo ots ▁have ▁sol es ▁with ▁stud s ▁to ▁allow ▁g rip ▁on ▁the ▁tur f ▁of ▁the ▁pitch . ▁The ▁stud s ▁may ▁be ▁either ▁metal ▁or ▁pl astic ▁but ▁must ▁not ▁have ▁any ▁sharp ▁edges ▁or ▁rid ges . ▁ ▁Prote ct ive ▁equipment ▁is ▁optional ▁and ▁strictly ▁reg ulated . ▁The ▁most ▁common ▁items ▁are ▁mouth gu ards , ▁which ▁are ▁worn ▁by ▁almost ▁all ▁players , ▁and ▁are ▁comp uls ory ▁in ▁some ▁rugby - play ing ▁nations . ▁Other ▁protect ive ▁items ▁that ▁are ▁permitted ▁include ▁head ▁g ear ; ▁thin ▁( not ▁more ▁than ▁ 1 0   mm ▁thick ), ▁non - rig id ▁shoulder ▁p ads ▁and ▁sh in ▁gu ards ; ▁which ▁are ▁worn ▁under ne ath ▁so cks . ▁Band ages ▁or ▁t ape ▁can ▁be ▁worn ▁to ▁support ▁or ▁protect ▁inj uries ; ▁some ▁players ▁wear ▁t ape ▁around ▁the ▁head ▁to ▁protect ▁the ▁ears ▁in ▁sc rum s ▁and ▁r uck s . ▁Fem ale ▁players ▁may ▁also ▁wear ▁ch est ▁p ads . ▁Although ▁not ▁worn ▁for ▁protection , ▁some ▁types ▁of ▁finger less ▁mitt s ▁are ▁allowed ▁to ▁aid ▁g rip . ▁ ▁It ▁is ▁the ▁responsibility ▁of ▁the ▁match ▁officials ▁to ▁check ▁players ' ▁cl othing ▁and ▁equipment ▁before ▁a ▁game ▁to ▁ensure ▁that ▁it ▁con forms ▁to ▁the ▁laws ▁of ▁the ▁game . ▁ ▁G over ning ▁bodies ▁ ▁The ▁international ▁gover ning ▁body ▁of ▁rugby ▁union