Influence of boot stud shapes and pitch surfaces on rugby players’ sprinting performance

Abstract

Introduction: In rugby, a player’s sprinting prowess emerges as a pivotal determinant for bridging the gap to opponents and eluding their pursuit. Hence, a proper rugby boot assumes paramount importance in enhancing sprinting capabilities. However, the tropical climate conditions in Malaysia, with high temperatures, humidity and heavy rainfall, possess the potential to rapidly degrade rugby pitch conditions, thereby exerting a pronounced impact on sprinting performance. Aims: This study aims to investigate the influence of different boot studs and pitch surfaces on the sprinting performance of junior rugby players. Methods: A cohort of 36 rugby players completed the sprinting tests with different boot stud shapes, i.e. cone, triangular and blade shapes, on normal, puddle and muddy surfaces. Fully automated timing gates were placed at the 0 m and 40 m mark along the track. Data obtained from the experiments were recorded for the statistical analysis using the repeated-measure analysis of variance. Results: The results revealed that the players’ sprinting performance declined by an average of 1.26% on the puddle pitch surface and by 16.51% on the muddy pitch surface using all types of boots. It was also discovered that the sprinting performance of players in the overweight and obese categories dropped by an average of 8.5% and 12.73% on all types of pitch surfaces, respectively. On muddy pitch surfaces, players in all positions and body mass index categories who used boots with cone and triangle studs had better sprinting performance when compared to blade studs. Conclusions: In essence, this study demonstrated the sprinting evaluation framework on various pitch conditions. Furthermore, it imparts invaluable technical insights to rugby players and coaches in selecting appropriate boots, particularly within Malaysia’s distinctive climatic and pitch conditions.