The associations between physical-test performance and match performance in women’s rugby sevens players (original) (raw)
Related papers
Match-Play Running Performance and Exercise Intensity in Elite International Women's Rugby Sevens
Journal of strength and conditioning research, 2018
Malone, S, Earls, M, Shovlin, A, Eddy, A, and Winkleman, N. Match-play running performance and exercise intensity in elite international women's rugby sevens. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The aim of the current investigation was to describe the running and physiological performance demands of elite women's rugby sevens match-play. Twenty-seven (n = 27) rugby seven's players (24.4 ± 2.1 years; 168 ± 7.1 cm; 67.9 ± 4.3 kg) were recruited for the current investigation. Across the observational period, 36 games were analyzed; during these games, players wore global positioning system technology (10-Hz, Statsports Viper Pod; STATSports, Newry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom) and heart rate monitors (Polar Team System, Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland). A total of 250 individual player data sets were obtained for final analysis. Players were categorized based on positional groups; backs and forwards, and monitored across halves of play. The mean distance covere...
Match Running Performance and Exercise Intensity in Elite Female Rugby Sevens
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2012
Suarez-Arrones, L, Nuñ ez, FJ, Portillo, J, and Mendez-Villanueva, A. Match running performance and exercise intensity in elite female rugby sevens. J Strength Cond Res 26 : 1858-1862, 2012-The purpose of this study was to describe the matchplay demands of professional female rugby players competing in Rugby Sevens (Rugby 7's) matches. Time-motion analyses (global position system) were performed on 12 elite female rugby players during 5 competitive matches in a 2-day international tournament. Data revealed that players covered an average distance of 1,556.2 6 189.3 m per game (14 minutes). Over this distance, 29.7% (462.6 6 94.6 m) was spent standing and walking, 33.2% (515.9 6 88.6 m) jogging, 11.6% (181.0 6 61.4 m) cruising, 16.4% (255.7 6 88.3 m) striding, 3.7% (57.1 6 40.8 m) high-intensity running, and 5.4% (84.0 6 64.8 m) sprinting. The average maximal distance of sprints, number of sprints, minimum distance of sprint, and mean sprint distance over the game were as follows: 25.8 6 16.1 m, 5.3 6 3.2 sprints, 6.5 6 2.0 m, and 17.2 6 8.8 m, respectively. The players' work-to-rest ratio was 1:0.4. For over 75% of the game, the players were exposed to heart rates (HRs) .80% of their maximal HR. There were no statistical differences between the first and second halves in any of the variables analyzed. This study suggests that the physical demands of Rugby 7's are quite different from those reported in other rugby codes. For players and teams to remain competitive in female Rugby Sevens, coaching, conditioning, and physical fitness testing should reflect these current demands. . Percentage of playing time spent at each exercise intensity zone during each half in elite female Rugby Sevens players . *Significantly higher than any other exercise intensity zone (p , 0.05). Data are mean 6 SD. HRmax = maximal heart rate.
Journal of strength and conditioning research, 2017
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between individual athletes' physical characteristics and both the peak running intensities and the decline in peak running intensities during competition. Twenty-two professional rugby league athletes (age; 24.1 ± 4.0 years, body mass; 101.4 ± 9.5 kg) underwent a series of physical testing procedures. Peak running intensity was determined using a moving average technique, applied to the speed (m·min), acceleration/deceleration (m·s) and metabolic power (W·kg) during competition, across 10 different durations. The power law relationship was then established, yielding an intercept and slope for the movement variables. Mixed linear models were then used to determine the relationship between physical characteristics and intercept and slope values. There were large, positive relationships between a player's maximal speed and both peak running speeds (ES = 0.56, 90% CI: 0.20 to 0.78) and metabolic power (0.57, 0.21 to 0.79...
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2019
Since the inclusion of rugby sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games, the popularity of women's rugby sevens has grown rapidly worldwide. This systematic review aimed to summarize the scientific literature addressing the match demands, anthropometric characteristics, and physical qualities of female rugby sevens athletes, and to highlight differences between competition levels and playing positions. Four electronic databases were searched, as were the reference lists and key journals. Hedges' g effect sizes with 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated to evaluate differences between Elite and Non-Elite athletes, and backs and forwards. 27 studies met inclusion criteria, and scored 68 ± 13% upon quality assessment. Comparisons between groups were restricted to variables where data was available. Greater running demands and intensities, number of sprints and accelerations, but lower physiological responses characterized International matches compared to Nationals. At International level, backs demonstrated greater running demands and intensities, number of sprints, and physiological responses than forwards. Elite athletes were leaner, taller, and displayed superior physical qualities (e.g., maximal speed, power, upper-body strength, and aerobic capacity) compared to Non-Elite athletes. At Elite level, forwards were heavier and displayed greater upper-body strength, whereas backs showed greater acceleration and maximal speed abilities. The specific match demands and physical requirements of female rugby sevens athletes competing at different playing levels and playing positions must be considered for developing effective training programs.
Changes in the physical fitness of elite women’s rugby union players over a competition season
South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013
Objective. To investigate changes in the physical fitness characteristics of elite women's rugby union players over a competitive season. Methods. Thirty-two elite women's rugby union players, all members of the South African Rugby Union High Performance Squad, were sub-divided into 2 positional categories of 17 forwards and 15 backs, respectively, and assessed pre-, mid-and post-competition season. Players underwent anthropometric (stature, body mass and sum of 7 skinfolds) and physical performance measurements (vertical jump, 10 m and 40 m sprint, 1 repetition maximum (1RM) bench press and multi-stage shuttle-run test). Analysis. A 2-factor analysis of variance was used to evaluate differences in physical fitness variables between and within playing positions over the competition season (p<0.01). Results. In both groups, no significant changes were detected in the sum of skinfolds, vertical jump height, 1RM bench press and multi-stage shuttle-run test scores throughout the season. However, sprint times (10 m and 40 m) significantly increased and then decreased for both groups between the early (pre-to mid-season) and later phases of the season (mid-to post-season), respectively. Conclusion. The results suggest that, for improvement in physical fitness, players need to train at higher loads, especially in the preparatory phase. Thereafter, they must take measures to actively maintain these gains throughout the competitive season. Direct supervision of their conditioning should be encouraged. S Afr J SM 2013;25(2):47-50.
PloS one, 2018
The use of physical tests to profile physical capabilities, and provide training direction to athletes is common practice. Likewise, in professional team sports, notational analysis codes the key contributions of each player during competition. Limited studies have however investigated relationships between physical capabilities and key performance indicators (KPIs) of rugby union match-play. Elite professional players, categorised as forwards (n = 15) or backs (n = 14), from an international rugby union squad (n = 29) undertook assessments of isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), bilateral and unilateral countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps (DJ; from 40 and 20 cm, respectively), and assessment of acceleration (10 m), a 5 m weighted sled drive, and a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (Yo-Yo IRTL1). Game statistics of the same players from 92 matches (~23 matches per player) during the 2014-15 season were analysed for effort and performance-based metrics. For forwards, Yo-Yo ...
Speed Demands of Womenʼs Rugby Sevens Match Play
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Misseldine, ND, Blagrove, RC, and Goodwin, JE. Speed demands of women's rugby sevens match play. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The purpose of this study was to quantify the running speed demands of elite female rugby sevens match play, both absolute and relative to maximal ability, and determine the importance of maximal velocity running to performance. Individual maximal running velocity (Vmax) was established for 12 professional female rugby sevens athletes before the collection of global positioning system data during all 6 games of an international tournament. The subjective importance of each maximal velocity running effort was established using visual analogue scale ratings of video clips by coaches. Differences in velocity demands between backs and forwards were analyzed using a one-way multivariate analysis of variance, and differences in "sprint" distance using the typical-standard and female-adjusted sprint thresholds were compared using a paired-samples t-test. The mean peak velocity reached per game by all players was 90.6 6 7.9% Vmax. Players covered 1,556 6 233 m per game, with "sprinting" representing 6 6 4% of this total distance using the typicalstandard "sprint" threshold (5.6 m$s 21), but a significantly (p , 0.001) greater 12 6 4% using the female-adjusted threshold (4.7 m$s 21). Despite similar total distances, backs reached significantly (p , 0.05) greater peak running velocity and covered more distance at sprint, .75% Vmax and .90% Vmax speeds when compared to forwards. More than half of the running efforts peaking at $90% Vmax were considered very influential to game outcomes. These findings suggest that maximal velocity running is important to female rugby sevens performance, and that highspeed demands are different for backs and forwards. Furthermore, the typical-standard sprint thresholds significantly underestimate the true running demands of female rugby sevens.
Match-play Activity Profile in Elite Womenʼs Rugby Union Players
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2014
The aim of this study was to provide an objective description of the locomotive activities and exercise intensity undergone during the course of an international-level match of female rugby union. Eight players were analyzed using GPS tracking technology. Total distance covered by the players during the whole match was 5820±512-m. The backs covered significantly more distance than the forwards (6356±144 vs. 5498±412-m, respectively). Over this distance, 42.7% (2487±391-m) was spent standing or walking, 35% jogging (2037±315-m), 9.7% running at low intensity (566±115-m), 9.5 % at medium intensity (553±190-m), 1.8% at high intensity (105±74-m), and 1.2% sprinting (73±107-m). There were significant differences in the distance covered by forwards and backs in certain speed zones. Analysis of the relative distance travelled over successive 10-min periods of match-play revealed that the greatest distances were covered during the first (725±53-m) and the last (702±79-m) 10min periods of the match. The average number of sprints, the average maximum distance of sprinting, the average minimum distance of sprinting and the average sprint distance during the game were: 4.7±3.9 sprints, 20.6±10.5-m, 5.8±0.9-m and 12.0±3.8m, respectively. There were substantial differences between forwards and backs. Backs covered greater total distance, distance in certain speed zones, and sprinting performance. The players spent 46.9±28.9% of match-time between 91-100% of HR max and experienced a large number of impacts (accelerometer data and expressed as gforces) during the game. These findings offer important information in order to design better training strategies and physical fitness testing adapted to the specific demands of female rugby union.
Positional Differences in Match Running Performance and Physical Collisions in Men Rugby Sevens
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2014
Purpose: This study describes the physical match demands relative to positional group in male rugby sevens. Methods: Ten highly trained players were investigated during competitive matches (N = 23) using GPS technology, heart rate (HR), and video recording. Results: The relative distance covered by the players throughout the match was 102.3 ± 9.8 m/min. As a percentage of total distance, 35.8% (36.6 ± 5.9 m/min) was covered walking, 26.0% (26.6 ± 5.5 m/min) jogging, 10.0% (10.2 ± 2.4 m/min) running at low intensity, 14.2% (14.5 ± 4.0 m/min) at medium intensity, 4.6% (4.7 ± 1.6 m/min) at high intensity, and 9.5% (9.7 ± 3.7 m/min) sprinting. For the backs, a substantial decrease in total distance and distance covered at low, medium, and high intensity was observed in the second half. Forwards exhibited a substantial decrease in the distance covered at medium intensity, high intensity, and sprinting in the 2nd half. Backs covered substantially more total distance at medium and sprinting speeds than forwards. In addition, the maximum length of sprint runs was substantially greater for the backs than forwards. On the contrary, forwards performed more tackles. The mean HR during the match in backs and forwards was similar, with the exception of time spent at HR intensities >90%HR max , which was substantially higher in forwards. Conclusion: These findings provide a description of the different physical demands placed on rugby sevens backs and forwards. This information may be helpful in the development of positional and/or individualized physical-fitness training programs.
performance testing in Indian rugby League players
Success in rugby league football seems heavily reliant on players possessing adequate position specific, physical fitness qualities such as strength, power, speed, agility, endurance, and individual skills. The purpose of this study was to compare specific fitness components of strength, speed and power of Indian rugby league players & to determine if there were position specific fitness differences within the players. A experimental study with total of 40 (26 males & 14 females) rugby union team players, average body mass of the players (26.10+ 3.77), average height (168.22+ 7.88 cms), competing at a national level, underwent measurements of body mass, muscular power (vertical jump), speed (10m & 40m sprint), muscle strength of upper limb (bench press) and lower limb (squat). Forwards were significantly (p= 0.002) heavier than backs. The backs were significantly faster (p=0.008) than forwards over 10m sprint. Back had significantly (p=0.00) greater power than forwards. When data was analysed according to position of players, it was found that the no significant differences were found between forwards and backs over 40m sprint (p=0.21), upper limb strength (p=0.06) and lower limb strength (p=0.06). We hereby conclude from our study that the speed in back players for a 10m sprint, power during vertical jump is significantly more than that of the forward players.