Why Grappling is the Secret Weapon of Modern Rugby
If you have watched rugby league or rugby union at any level recently, you have probably noticed that the game is changing. Gone are the days when a big hit was the only tool a defender needed. Today, what separates the good teams from the great ones often comes down to what happens after contact — the wrestle, the hold-down, the contest for the ball on the ground. That is grappling. And it is transforming the sport.
At Clube de Lutas (CDL) in Western Sydney, we have seen it first-hand. Our grappling programs — built on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and wrestling fundamentals — have been overrun with rugby players, coaches, and whole junior clubs looking for an edge. The demand has been extraordinary, and it only keeps growing. The best defenders in the NRL are not just strong. They are technically precise on the ground. That precision comes from grappling training.
How Professional Rugby Teams Are Using Grappling
Across the NRL and Super Rugby, performance directors have quietly been bringing grappling coaches into their pre-season and in-season programs for years. The Brisbane Broncos, the Melbourne Storm, and the Penrith Panthers — three of the most dominant clubs of the modern era — have all publicly credited wrestling and BJJ drills as part of their defensive identity.
The reasoning is straightforward. Rugby league, in particular, is decided at the collision point. Players who understand leverage, base, and body positioning on the ground can strip the ball, slow the play-the-ball, and control big ball-carriers far more efficiently than those relying on brute strength alone. A player with 100 hours of grappling training moves differently under fatigue. They stay composed, find angles, and execute with precision — not panic.
At the elite level, grappling is not a novelty. It is a core training pillar. Increasingly, junior clubs, school programs, and development squads are following suit.
Why CDL Has Been So Busy
The word has spread. Over the past 18 months, CDL has welcomed rugby league clubs, high school rugby teams, and development squads from across Greater Western Sydney through our doors. Coaches have reached out wanting targeted grappling workshops. Parents of young rugby players have enrolled their kids in our junior programs specifically to build their on-field game.
Our gym has become a training ground not just for martial artists, but for athletes who understand that grappling is a transferable skill. A teenager who learns to break a tackle grip on the mat carries that body intelligence onto the field every Saturday morning.
The truth is simple: CDL has been busier than ever because the rugby community has realised what we have known for years — grappling works.
Kaizen Foundation and NSW Rugby League: Taking It Into Schools
What happens on the professional training pitch is one thing. What happens in Western Sydney classrooms and school gyms is another — and that is where the Kaizen Foundation comes in.
Kaizen Foundation, Clube De Lutas’ nonprofit partner, has formalised a partnership with NSW Rugby League to co-deliver in-school grappling and martial arts programs across Western and South-West Sydney. The partnership embeds qualified Kaizen coaches into school settings, working alongside NRL Rugby League staff to deliver structured physical literacy sessions that combine the discipline of martial arts with the practical skills rugby players need.
For students — many of whom have never had access to structured training outside the school gate — this is a genuine pathway. From the classroom mat to the rugby field, the skills transfer directly. Confidence, body control, resilience under pressure: these are outcomes that show up in the sport and in the classroom.
Our partnership with NSW Rugby League is proof that grappling is not just a gym sport. It belongs in every school in Western Sydney — Kalil Pinto, Kaizen Foundation
Holiday Camp: Don’t Miss Your Spot
With school holidays coming up, CDL is running a grappling-focused Holiday Camp designed for junior athletes aged 8 to 17 — including rugby players who want to fast-track their ground game. The camp covers BJJ fundamentals, wrestling takedowns, defensive body positioning, and sport-specific drills for rugby players.
Places are strictly limited. Given how much demand we have seen from the rugby community, we expect this camp to fill fast. Whether your child is playing in a junior league competition, training in an academy squad, or simply wants to build confidence and physical skills, this is the camp for them.
Ready to book or find out more?
Visit clubedelutas.com.au or contact us directly to secure a spot for your child in the upcoming holiday camp. Spaces will not last.
Train smart. Grapple better. Win on the ground.