Back in the 1970s, rugby fitness usually referred to how many pints you could drink before falling over. How things change! These days rugby fitness is an example to many sports, the players' combination of strength and speed the envy of many other pro sportsmen.

The change to professionalism was undoubtedly the catalyst for the change in attitudes towards rugby fitness, with club owners and the paying public expecting players to be more dedicated to their new jobs.

Improving conditioning has huge benefits in a sport with so much contact - players are faster, stronger, and less prone to injuries. And for the skill positions, it means that players have the ability to turn it on even in the 80th minute of a match.

If you are a club player or coach, the good news is that much of the knowledge has now started to trickle down through the system, and one of the best places to learn about it is from books. These are just some of those available:

Rugby Fitness Training: A Twelve-Month Conditioning Programme
The RFU Guide for Coaches: Fitness and Conditioning
Total Training for Rugby Fitness
Zinzan Brooke's Competitive Edge: A Guide to Training, Toughness and Sports Nutrition
Conditioning for Rugby League

Union and league, from the RFU through to big names life Zinzan Brooke, there's a great selection to choose from.