While rugby players also wear boots designer primarily for football, adidas rugby boots offer a streamlined range built for different player roles. Whether you’re a front-row enforcer, a rapid winger, or a precise playmaker, there’s a silo tailored to your game.
Current Adidas Rugby Boot Silos
These are main silos in the current adidas rugby lineup:
- Kakari RS– Built for power and stability in the scrum and ruck.
- adizero RS15 – Lightweight, agile boots designed for speed and responsiveness.
Comparison Table
| Silo | Weight | Stud Configuration | Ideal Role | Main Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kakari RS | ~310 g | 8-stud, split soleplate | Props, Locks, Hookers | Power, traction, internal support cage |
| adizero RS15 | ~313 g | 6-stud Speedframe | Wings, Fullbacks, Flankers | Lightweight, responsive, Fusionskin upper |
Best Boot for Your Position
- Front Row (Props, Hookers) → Kakari RS: These boots offer elite grip and scrum traction, essential for stability and power in the set piece.
- Second Row (Locks) → Kakari RS: The Kakari RS combines powerful support with the durability needed for lineouts and rucks.
- Back Row (Flankers, Number 8) → RS15: Lightweight and designed for quick movements around the breakdown, the RS15 helps you get to the action faster.
- Scrum-halves / Fly-halves → Predator: The Predator line assists with tactical kicking and ball control, crucial for dictating play
- Centres → Predator: Blending control with agility, the Predator allows centers to make sharp cuts and precise passes.
- Wingers / Fullbacks → RS15: Prioritizing top speed and rapid directional changes, the RS15 is built for the explosive movements of the back three.
Choosing the right adidas rugby boot can elevate your game. Match your position to the right silo and you’ll get optimal performance where it matters most.
The Early Years of adidas
Adidas is founded in the 1920 and is an abbreviation of the firm’s founding fathers name Adi Dassler. The firm has always been a leader in sports footwear with the first training shoes being made in his mothers home where he made handmade leather shoes. Dassler worked with three principals to produce the best shoe to serve the needs of the sport whilst protecting the participant from injury. This product should also be durable. In 1925 he produced his first track and field shoes with hand forged spikes and football boots with nailed studs.
The business really took off in 1927 when with his brother Rudi, Dassler rented a building and set up Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory employing 25 people and producing 100 pairs of shoes a day. 1928 and the firm patented the first running spikes with perfect timing for the Amsterdam Olympics. The first Football Boot with leather outsoles and bar style front and rear peg studs was introduced in 1929. The forerunner to today’s vast selection. The 1930’s saw further progression and they bought the factory they had previously rented. The big news world wide was Jessie Owens wearing Dassler shoes winning 4 Gold medals and setting 5 World Records. The decade ends with Dassler having a range of 30 different shoes fro 11 sports and the company buying a second factory and increasing output to 100 shoes a day.
Modern Boots and Technology
The 50’s were a time of major change as the company pioneered changes in football boot design, such as the use of new leathers like Kangaroo and bought in new materials for soles such as Nylon. The 60’s saw moves into clothing and balls plus for the first time the addition of the now iconic three stripes. The 70’s and the Trefoil Logo was introduced as an additional trademark. Through the last years of the 1900’s the company continued to innovate and 1991 saw the launch of the Equipment label for performance enhancing and functional footwear and clothing.
Adidas continues to spend time, money and above all energy on remaining at the forefront of technology and design for sports apparel and particularly Football Boots. This work has a knock on effect with Rugby Boots for both Union and League. Find out more about adidas rugby at their wikipedia lisitng or their official website.
Official Sponsorships
Since 1999, the sportswear manufacturer has been the kit supplier of the All Blacks national rugby union team of New Zealand, where rugby union is considered to be the national sport. Some of the iconic rugby players to be under Adidas’ roster are Jonah Lemu and Ricchie McCaw. Adidas is also the kit supplier of the BNZ Crusaders, holders of the most titles won in the Super Rugby competition, and the Harlequins, a Premiership Rugby team and one of the founding members of the governing body Rugby Football Union.
Current players under Adidas today are Beauden Barrett of the Blues, Danny Cipriani of Gloucester, George Ford of Leicester Tigers, and Handre Pollard of Montepellier.
ADIDAS KAKARI RUGBY BOOTS
As rugby players literally lock head and shoulders with the opposition and muscle their way to each other using brute strength, the amount of force required to be generated from their lower extremities is staggering. This is where the Adidas Kakari RS comes into the picture. Worn by the likes Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola, the Adidas Kakari RS is the perfect light armour for the tanks of the rugby game.
KAKARI RS
Okay, so let me tell you about the Adidas Kakari RS – for me, it really feels like it’s been built as a modern forward’s boot that perfectly balances mobility without ever sacrificing that crucial traction. What I really appreciate is its Fusionskin upper; it’s surprisingly lightweight but still gives you that supportive, almost leather-like feel, and it’s fantastic because it just shrugs off the weather, offering a really snug fit that I personally love.
Then there’s the split soleplate with its 8-stud setup – that thing delivers excellent grip, whether I’m battling in the scrums or making a break in open play, especially when the ground is soft. For me, where it truly shines is in its balance—it feels light enough for me to be dynamic and move around the park, but I still find it stable enough to handle those intense, close-quarter contests.
FUSIONSKIN LEATHER UPPER
Blends traditional calf leather with knit
That said, I’ve noticed it’s not quite as robust or cushioned as, say, the Kakari Elite, so if you’re someone who prefers a more traditional, heavier feel, you might find it a bit minimal. But honestly, I think it’s a really smart choice if you’re a modern loose forward or an athletic tight-five player who prioritises agility and responsiveness.
PLASTIC TOOLING
TPU-based with an 8-stud layout
In terms of sizing, I found them to run pretty true to size, perhaps leaning slightly towards the snug side. I usually wear a size 9, and the 9 in the Kakari RS fit well, but with just enough room for a thicker rugby sock. If you’re someone who prefers a bit more wiggle room or has wider feet, you might consider going up half a size, but for me, my usual size worked out. The fit itself is quite snug, especially around the midfoot, which contributes to that secure, locked-in feel I mentioned earlier. This is great for stability, but again, it ties back to that initial stiffness – it’s a very structured fit. The feel on the ball is decent for a forward’s boot; it’s not designed for delicate touches, but you get enough feedback for kicking or passing when needed
KAKARI ELITE
The adidas Kakari Elite is a top-tier rugby boot designed for elite forwards, featuring a leather-textile hybrid upper with an internal support cage for a snug, structured fit, and a traditional 8-stud split soleplate for maximum grip and power in scrums. Compared to the Kakari RS, which uses a lightweight Fusionskin synthetic upper and is tailored for speed and mobility in modern forward play, the Elite prioritizes durability, traditional comfort, and stability, making it better suited for tight-five players who value a firmer, more classic feel underfoot.
KAKARI SG
In comparison to the Kakari RS and Kakari Elite, the Kakari SG generally focuses on being a lightweight option for soft ground conditions. It features a synthetic leather upper for comfort and durability, along with a lightweight soft ground outsole with screw-in studs. However, a common complaint for the Kakari SG, across various iterations, is that the screw-in studs tend to loosen or fall out during play, requiring frequent tightening or even Loctite application to prevent loss.
ADIDAS RS15 RUGBY BOOTS
You would usually hear some boots as speed boots and some as control boots. With the adidas RS, you have an option that aims to be both. It is inspired by the fact that the modern rugby game is becoming faster and the players becoming more versatile. Regardless of your place on the field, RS is there to give you multidirectional speed. Antoine Dupont, Beauden Barrett and Finn Russell are some of the players giving the RS a go in the professional level. The current adidas RS is named RS15, and it comes at the following price points:
RS15 PRO
To give you a bit of history for the RS15, the adidas boot is the merger of two previous boots. It combines the speedy attributes of the RS7 and the kicking capabilities of the Predator Malice. It’s this amalgamation that makes the RS15 a boot that addresses a multitude of needs for today’s rugby players.
Alright, let’s talk about the Adidas RS15 rugby boot. It’s been living in my gear bag for a few weeks now, and after putting it through its paces in training and a few matches, I’ve got some honest thoughts to share. For me, as someone who values agility and a lightweight feel, especially playing in the backline or as a loose forward, it’s definitely a strong contender, though it’s got its own little quirks.
First off, sizing was spot on for me. I usually wear a US size 9, and these fit true to size, which is always a relief. The fit itself is nice and snug, particularly around the midfoot, which is exactly what I want to keep my foot locked in when I’m changing direction quickly. The upper, while not as buttery soft as the old leather boots I used to love (think Copa Mundials), actually moulds pretty well to your foot after a couple of sessions. They feel incredibly light, almost like I’m not wearing much at all, which really helps with that feeling of being quick on my feet. Plus, the heel lockdown is fantastic – no annoying slippage when I’m sprinting.
RIPSTOP W/ FUSIONSKIN UPPER
Woven fabric heel and textured leather forefoot
What I really love about these boots is how lightweight and agile they make me feel. They genuinely feel like a speed boot, helping me burst into acceleration and make sharp cuts without feeling weighed down. That’s a huge plus over some of the heavier, more traditional options out there. The stud pattern, a mix of conical and bladed, gives me solid grip on natural grass, whether it’s firm or a bit softer. I’ve always felt confident in my traction without feeling like I’m stuck to the ground. And a bonus: the upper seems pretty tough; it’s easy to clean and has handled scuffs and impacts surprisingly well.
Because the RS15 replaces the Predator’s rubber elements with a thin coating, the boot allows the upper to remain soft and pliable. The off-centred lacing gives the RS15 a wide striking surface area. A sticky coating is present on the leather area and provides the boot with some water protection. I am a speedy player who is also good at kicking the ball. That sticky coating is effective in delivering ball grip upon contact to help you direct it. It also has that nice thud and catch when doing a drop kick. RS15 is also to my liking as far as kicking is concerned because of that extra space given by the off-centred lacing system.
SPEEDFRAME OUTSOLE
TPU-based and a 6-metal with supporting moulded stud layout
Now for the downsides. That lightweight feel does mean you sacrifice a bit of protection and cushioning. If you’re a tight five forward constantly battling in scrums and rucks, you might find your feet feeling a bit more exposed than in a more heavily padded boot like a Canterbury Phoenix or even Adidas’ own Kakari range. Also, while the synthetic upper is durable, it just doesn’t have that immediate, natural comfort of leather. It takes a bit more time to break in, and I do sometimes miss that plush, glove-like feel. Oh, and the tongue is a bit minimalist; I sometimes have to fiddle with it to make sure it sits right.
Comparing them to other boots I’ve worn, the RS15 feels much more streamlined and focused on pure speed than, say, an Adidas Malice, which feels a bit wider and more about kicking. If you’re used to something like a Nike Mercurial Superfly, the RS15 gives you similar agility but with a stud pattern that’s actually built for rugby. Coming from a classic leather boot like a Copa Mundial or even a modern Puma King, you’ll definitely notice how much lighter and less cushioned these are – it’s an adjustment. And while it offers good grip, it’s not as aggressively specialized for soft ground as something like a Mizuno Morelia Neo SG.
So, for me, the Adidas RS15 is a great choice if you’re all about speed, agility, and a lightweight feel on the rugby pitch. It fits true to size, feels snug, and gives you reliable traction. Yeah, you give up a little bit of protection and that immediate leather comfort, but the boost it gives to dynamic play makes it a really strong contender in my book.
RS15 ULTIMATE
The Ultimate is the synthetic alternate from the top-end Pro. The forefoot has been changed to a synthetic material for a more streamlined on-feet feel. It arguably also makes the boot lighter and thinner on feet, plus the silhouette is relatively unchanged. No changes to the outsole as well as it is the same Speedframe tooling from the Pro.
RS15 ELITE
Going a step lower with the RS15 Elite, you now get a decent leather upper that has some seams and stitching shaped to the cutouts of the overlay found on the Pro. The shape is more generic and can certainly appeals to more foot shapes than that of the Pro or Ultimate. Because of the upper, the boot has nice dampening effect on ball contact but certainly no grip or control element whatsoever. Traction is less aggressive now because all moulded studs have been switched to conicals.
