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Purpose: To investigate the effects of repeated-sprint training in hypoxia vs in normoxia on world-level male rugby union players’ repeated-sprint ability (RSA) during an international competition period. Methods: A total of 19 players belonging to an international rugby union senior male national team performed 4 sessions of cycling repeated sprints (consisting of 3 × eight 10-s sprints with 20 s passive recovery) either in normobaric hypoxia (RSH, 3000 m; n = 10) or in normoxia (RSN, 300 m; n = 9) over a 2-wk period. Before and after the training intervention, RSA was evaluated using a cycling repeated-sprint test (6 × 10-s maximal sprint and 20-s passive recovery) performed in normoxia. Results: Significant interaction effects (all P < .05,
Beard and Millet are with ISSUL, Inst of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Ashby and Chambers are with the National Centre of Excellence, Welsh Rugby Union, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Brocherie is with the Laboratory of Sport, Expertise and Performance, Research Dept, French Inst of Sport, Paris, France.