that of adolescence ( Stambulova, 2012 ). Reflecting these concerns, rugby union in Wales has experienced reduced levels of participation in adolescent age groups (cf. Welsh Rugby Union, 2014 ). The importance of rugby to Wales as a nation is ever present, and therefore continued participation and
Search Results
Continued Participation of Adolescent Males in Rugby Union: Stakeholders’ Perspectives
Paul A. Sellars, Stephen D. Mellalieu, and Camilla J. Knight
Overtraining During Preseason: Stress and Negative Affective States Among Professional Rugby Union Players
Adam R. Nicholls, Jim McKenna, Remco C.J. Polman, and Susan H. Backhouse
The aim of this study was to explore the perceived factors that contribute to stress and negative affective states during preseason among a sample of professional rugby union players. The participants were 12 male professional rugby union players between 18 and 21 years of age (M age = 19 years, SD = 0.85). Data were collected via semistructured interviews and analyzed using an inductive content analysis procedure. Players identified training (structure and volume), the number of matches played and the recovery period, diet, sleep, and travel as factors that they believed contributed to their experience of stress and negative affective states. The present findings suggest that players may require more time to recover between matches, alongside interventions to help players manage the symptoms of stress and negative affect during times in which players are overtraining.
Assessing Novices’ Game Performance in Rugby Union: The Rugby Attack Assessment Instrument (RAAI)
Bernat Llobet-Martí, Victor López-Ros, Jose Barrera-Gómez, and Joel Comino-Ruiz
The application of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) and Game Centered Approaches (GCA) in team sports initiation generated the need for assessing game performance. In this paper we introduce the Rugby Attack Assessment Instrument (RAAI), a tool to assess the actions of players in attack and their incidence in the generated game situations in rugby. The RAAI focuses the attention on the ball carrier during a 5 vs. 5 situation. The actions of players in possession of the ball are described and codified. A weight is allocated to each simple and combined action in relation to its tactical value. Thus, the codified actions provide a weighted Index of Performance, the team score of the RAAI. Validity and reliability were tested in two different studies. Results suggest that the RAAI is valid and reliable to assess ball carrier’s actions and their influence in attacking game situations of novice rugby union players.
Macronutrient Intakes of Male Rugby Union Players: A Review
Katherine Elizabeth Black, Alistair David Black, and Dane Frances Baker
Worldwide 120 countries are affiliated to the rugby union, and rugby is thought to be played by ∼7 million people ( Rugby World, 2017 ). The two major club competitions are “Super Rugby” played in the Southern Hemisphere, with teams from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, and Argentina
Injury Patterns, Physiological Profile, and Performance in University Rugby Union
Shane Ball, Mark Halaki, Tristan Sharp, and Rhonda Orr
Rugby union is a highly physically demanding collision sport where match play comprises intermittent periods of high-intensity sprinting, low-speed walking and jogging, and contact events such as tackling, rucking and mauling, and scrummaging. 1 As contact events are a major component of the game
Repeated-Sprint Training in Hypoxia in International Rugby Union Players
Adam Beard, John Ashby, Ryan Chambers, Franck Brocherie, and Grégoire P. Millet
Rugby union is an intermittent sport often having periods of high-intensity efforts with incomplete recoveries. 1 Total distances reported in the literature have ranged between 4800 and 5200 m for forwards and 5600 and 6000 m for backs, 2 whereas sprint distances have ranged between 350 and 510 m
Profiling Professional Rugby Union Activity After Peak Match Periods
Samuel T. Howe, Robert J. Aughey, William G. Hopkins, and Andrew M. Stewart
Collision-based team sports, such as rugby union, are characterized by low-intensity activity interspersed with frequent bouts of high-intensity activity. 1 If rugby union training is prescribed relative to the average activity profile of a match, players will likely be underprepared for the most
Physical and Physiological Demands of Elite Rugby Union Officials
Matthew R. Blair, Nathan Elsworthy, Nancy J. Rehrer, Chris Button, and Nicholas D. Gill
Rugby union is a highly intermittent sport involving periods of high-intensity exercise including running, tackling, and static exercise (ie, scrums) interspersed with periods of low-intensity activity. 1 Since rugby union became a professional sport in August 1995, there have been numerous
Classifying Winning Performances in International Women’s Rugby Union
Georgia A. Scott, Ollie Edwards, Neil E. Bezodis, Mark Waldron, Eifion Roberts, David B. Pyne, Jocelyn Mara, Christian Cook, Laura Mason, M. Rowan Brown, and Liam P. Kilduff
Team performance indicators (PIs) have been utilized within rugby union to provide insight into processes that lead to successful match outcomes. 1 Identifying PIs associated with winning outcomes allows practitioners to assess and develop match performances by improving technical, tactical, and
Mental Fatigue Impairs Tackling Technique in Amateur Rugby Union Players
Demi Davidow, Mitchell Smith, Tayla Ross, Gwyneth Laura James, Lara Paul, Michael Lambert, Ben Jones, and Sharief Hendricks
The tackle is a physically and psychologically challenging contest of skill between 2 or more opposing players in collision-based sports such as rugby union, rugby league, rugby sevens, and American football. 1 – 3 The tackle contest typically starts when a defending player(s), known as the tackler
