Match-Play Running Performance and Exercise Intensity in Elite International Women's Rugby Sevens

Abstract

Malone, S, Earls, M, Shovlin, A, Eddy, A, and Winkleman, N. Match-play running performance and exercise intensity in elite international women's rugby sevens. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The aim of the current investigation was to describe the running and physiological performance demands of elite women's rugby sevens match-play. Twenty-seven (n = 27) rugby seven's players (24.4 ± 2.1 years; 168 ± 7.1 cm; 67.9 ± 4.3 kg) were recruited for the current investigation. Across the observational period, 36 games were analyzed; during these games, players wore global positioning system technology (10-Hz, Statsports Viper Pod; STATSports, Newry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom) and heart rate monitors (Polar Team System, Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland). A total of 250 individual player data sets were obtained for final analysis. Players were categorized based on positional groups; backs and forwards, and monitored across halves of play. The mean distance covered during match-play was 1,625 ± 132 m which equates to a relative running performance of 116.8 ± 9.4 m·min. The high-speed distance of players was 199 ± 44 m, which equates to a relative high-speed running performance of 14.2 ± 3.1 m·min. Significant reductions in high-speed running (p = 0.003; effect size [ES]: 0.23; 90% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11-0.41) and significant increases in lower speed running were observed across halves of play (p = 0.04; ES: 0.33; 90% CI: 0.16-0.54). Across the duration of match-play, players spent over 75% of the time above 80% of heart rate maximum (HRmax). Backs were found to have a higher reduction in total distance (p = 0.345; ES: 0.21; 90% CI: 0.11-0.31), high-speed distance (p = 0.04; ES: 0.61; 90% CI: 0.48-0.77), sprint distance (p = 0.034; ES: 0.11; 90% CI: 0.02-0.21), and average sprint distance (p = 0.03; ES: 0.33; 90% CI: 0.08-0.44) across halves of play when compared to forwards. Normative data are now provided to coaches who need to consider the positional differences in running and physiological performance when constructing training drills for seven's players.

Match Demands, Anthropometric Characteristics, and Physical Qualities of Female Rugby Sevens Athletes: A Systematic Review

“…The average Quality Index of the studies reviewed was 68 ± 13% (range 42-91). Ten studies (37%) were categorized as being of strong (20,23,26,28,37,38,41,44,45,48), 15 (56%) as moderate (3, 12, 14-18, 25, 27, 36, 43, 47, 57, 59, 61), and 2 (7%) as limited quality (13, 24). The average Quality Index for studies reporting match demands was 73 ± 11% (range 56-90), anthropometric characteristics 69 ± 13% (range 42-91), and physical qualities 64 ± 8% (range 48-79).…”

“…A number of recent investigations have described the match demands (12,15,26,38,41,45,47,57,61), anthropometric characteristics (3, 15,25,43), and physical qualities of female rugby…”

“…Similarly, despite 5.5 m . s -1 being used as a threshold for quantifying sprinting(38,41,45, 57), 4.7 m . s-1…”

“…Moderate to large correlations have been observed between acceleration abilities (i.e., 10 m time) and match sprint performance in female rugby sevens' matches(18).Furthermore, since female rugby sevens athletes repeatedly reach running speeds above 90% of their maximal sprinting speed during matches(41, 61), superior sprinting abilities possessed by Elite athletes likely accounts for and contributes to the increased running demands and performances during International matches. The specific positional role of backs to carry the ball in wider areas of the field(38), combined with their superior sprinting ability likely explain these increased running and physiological demands. In contrast, the total workload of forwards could be underestimated when only considering GPS running load data; as this does not account for rugby-specific demands such as rucking, line outs, and scrummaging where the objective is to gain and secure ball possession(38).…”

Eight-season epidemiological study of match injuries in women’s international rugby sevens

“…More injuries were sustained in the second half of women's SWS games compared to the first half, which is a similar situation to that reported for the men's SWS (Fuller et al, 2016): it was postulated that this could be due to player fatigue, as a result of the high work-loads experienced by Rugby-7s players. This suggestion is further supported by reports that reductions in players' running performance during the second half of women's Rugby-7s matches are due to player fatigue (Ball et al, 2019;Clarke et al, 2015;Malone et al, 2020;Sella et al, 2019). While the impact of match and tournament demands on injury has been investigated for men's Rugby-7s (Fuller et al, 2015(Fuller et al, , 2016, there is no equivalent information available specifically for women's Rugby-7s.…”