Training Periodization Over an Elite Rugby Sevens Season: From Theory to Practice
in International Journal of Sports Physiology and PerformanceClick name to view affiliation
Purpose: To describe the training periodization in rugby sevens players competing in the World Rugby Sevens Series during a non-Olympic season. Methods: Workload data were collected over a 33-wk period in 12 male players participating in a full competitive season. Workload was quantified using session rating of perceived exertion and global positioning system–derived data during training and competition. Self-reported well-being was assessed using a questionnaire. Each variable was analyzed weekly and through 5 mesocycles (preseason, in-season 1–4), each of which ended with competition blocks. Results: The perceived load decreased throughout the season for the full squad (−68% [26%] between preseason and final competitive block, large effect) and when unavailable players were removed from the analysis (−38% [42%], moderate). Weekly perceived load was highly variable, with a typical periodization in 4 phases during each mesocycle (regeneration, training overload, taper, and competition). During the preseason, the workload was higher during the overload training phase than during the competitive period (range: +23% to +59%, large to very large, for the distance covered above individual maximal aerobic speed and the number of accelerations). This observation no longer persisted during the season. The well-being score decreased almost certainly from in-season 3 (moderate). Conclusions: These results highlighted the apparent difficulty in maintaining high-load training periods throughout the season in players engaged on the World Rugby Sevens Series despite ∼4–7 training weeks separating each competitive block. This observation was likely explained by the difficulties inherent to the World Rugby Sevens Series (risk of contact injury, calendar, and multiple long-haul travel episodes) and potentially by limited squad-rotation policies.
Marrier, Le Meur, Hausswirth, and Morin are with LAMHESS, Côte d’Azur University, Nice, France. Marrier, Leduc, Piscione, Igarza, and Robineau are with the Research Dept, French Rugby Federation, Marcoussis, France. Le Meur is also with AS Monaco Football Club, Monaco, France. Lacome is with the Performance Dept, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.
© 2023 Human Kinetics