Physical-Preparation Recommendations for Elite Rugby Sevens Performance
in International Journal of Sports Physiology and PerformanceClick name to view affiliation
Rugby sevens, a sport new to the Olympics, features high-intensity intermittent running and contact efforts over short match durations, normally 6 times across 2 to 3 d in a tournament format. Elite rugby sevens seasons often include over a dozen competitive tournaments over less than 9 months, demanding deliberate and careful training-stress balance and workload management alongside development of the necessary physical qualities required for competition. Focus on running and repeated power skills, strength, and match-specific conditioning capacities is advised. Partial taper approaches in combination with high-speed running (>5 m/s from GPS measures) before and between tournaments in succession may reduce injury rates and enhance performance. In a sport with substantial long-haul intercontinental travel and repetitive chronic load demands, management of logistics including nutrition and recovery is inclusive of the formula for success in the physical preparation of elite rugby sevens athletes.
Schuster is with the Athletics Dept, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. Howells is with Rugby Football Union, Twickenham, United Kingdom. Robineau and Couderc are with the French Rugby Union Federation, Marcoussis, France. Natera is with the Greater Western Sydney Giants, Australia. Lumley is with the Scottish Rugby Union, Edinburgh, Scotland. Gabbett is with Gabbett Performance Solutions, Brisbane, and the Inst for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Darling Heights, Australia. Winkelman is with the Irish Rugby Football Union, Dublin, Ireland.
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