Background: Anthropometric evaluation of athletes is necessary to optimize talent identification and player development. The aim was to describe the anthropometric characteristics of national under-18 and under-20 rugby team by field positions in two season. Material and method: 152 players of under-18 and under-20 rugby teams were to measured mass, stature, skinfolds, percentage body fat, skeletal muscle mass, bone mineral and somatype between 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 season. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for each national team, groups and positional. The Mann-Whitney U test were performed to investigate differences between national team and by groups. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to investigate differences between positional. Results: The foward units were heavier, taller and had a larger percentage body fat and skeletal muscle mass than back units (p <0.05). The props had a larger percentage body fat (p <0.05) and the seconds row were taller (p <0.05). Conclusions: The elite players of under-20 in Spain are heavier and have a larger percentage body fat and skeletal muscle mass than elite players of under-18. The foward units are heavier, taller and have a larger percentage body fat, skeletal muscle mass and bone mineral tan back units. The props are heavier positional and have larger percentage body fat. The seconds row are taller positional.

Different rugby positions make different demands on players. It therefore follows that optimum body composition may vary according to the position played. Using anthropometry and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) to assess body composition, the present study aimed to compare the effect of sex and position on body composition variables using anthropometry and BIA methods. A total of 100 competitive rugby players (35 women and 65 men) competing in the First Spanish National League were recruited voluntarily and for convenience for this study. In the laboratory, body composition was assessed by anthropometry, following the recommendations established by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK), and by direct segmental multi-frequency BIA, following the guidelines established by the Spanish Group of Kinanthropometry (GREC) of the Spanish Federation of Sports Medicine (FEMEDE). We found sex-related differences in height, weight, body mass index and body fat (%) by anthropometry and in body lean mass (%) by DSM-BIA, in 4 of the 6 skinfolds assessed (p < 0.05). We also observed position-related differences in all the variables assessed (p < 0.05) except for lean body mass, as measured by both methods of determining body composition, and front thigh skinfold. Body composition and ∑6skinfolds differs according to sex and playing position, backs (16.6 ± 3.8% and 92.3 ± 33.9 mm,) vs. forwards (20.0 ± 6.7 and 115.3 ± 37.6 mm), and the muscle-adipose (meso-endomorphic somatotype) development predominated in both sexes. Thus, forwards of both sexes are taller, heavier and fatter, possibly due to the specific demands of this position. In addition, body composition measurements vary according to the method used (DSM-BIA vs. anthropometry), indicating that anthropometry is probably the best body composition assessment method.

Background: We describe and analyze injury incidence, severity, cause of injury, anatomical location, damaged tissue, injury recurrence, and the time and place at which injuries occur over the course of a season. Methods: An observational, descriptive, prospective, nomothetic, and multidimensional study was conducted during the 2018–2019 season with 258 players of the top semiprofessional rugby league in Spain (División de Honor de Rugby). Data were reported by the clubs’ medical services. Reported time-loss injuries were collected. Results: Overall exposure was 4100 h (137 matches), over 35 weeks of competition. A total of 288 injuries were reported, with three of these leading to withdrawal from the sport. A total average of 35.63 days was lost to injury. Overall time-loss injury incidence was 3.41 injuries/1000 h of exposure. Backs suffered 119 injuries corresponding to 3.80 injuries/1000 h of exposure, whilst forwards suffered 169 injuries with 4.27 injuries/1000 h of exposure. Severe injuries were the most frequent injury type. Conclusions: Outcomes confirm that more injuries take place during competition, with these also being more severe in nature. Contact injuries were most frequently suffered, above all, due to tackling or being tackled.

This study examine the injuries suffered by players (n=166) of the Spanish national men’s under-18 and under-20 rugby teams between 2015 and 2017, and identifies the actions involved in their appearance. All injuries (total n=78) sustained during matches and training were recorded as recommended by World Rugby, and injury incidence rates per 1000 player-hours (ph) calculated for both types of activity. Injuries occurred more commonly during matches than during training (incidence 105.3 [95%CI 78.7-131.9] per 1000 [ph] of match play, vs. 1.16 [95%CI0.69-1.62] per 1000 ph of training), and most days absent per 1000 ph during matches with <3 days rest since the previous match (4209.2 [95%CI 3516.2-4902.1] per 1000 ph of match play, vs. 1947.4 [95%CI 1511.8-2382.9] per 1000 ph of match play in matches with >3 days rest). These results provide information that may be useful in the development of strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of injuries.

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