Physical Characteristics Explain Ball-Carrying Capability in Sub-Elite Rugby Union Players

Abstract

Purpose The aims of the present study were two-fold: (i) to investigate the relationship between physical characteristics and the game statistics associated with ball-carrying capability amongst sub-elite rugby union players, and (ii) to predict the level of change in these physical characteristics required to improve the associated game statistic via regression analysis. Methods Thirty-eight senior professional players (forwards, n = 22; backs, n = 16) were assessed for body mass (BM), back squat (BS) single-repetition maximum (1RM) normalised to BM (1RM/BM), 10 m sprint velocity (S10), 10 m sprint momentum (SM10), and the game statistics from 22 games within the 2019/20 RFU Championship season. The relationship between these measures and the predicted level of change in a physical measure required to improve the total number of the associated game statistic by one were assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and simple regression analyses. Results In forwards, an ~ 11.5% reduction in BM, an ~ 11.8% improvement in BS 1RM/BM, or an ~ 11.5% increase in S10 was required to improve the game statistics associated with ball-carrying capability. In backs, a ~ 19.3% increase in BM or a ~ 15.6% improvement in SM10 was required. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that improvements in lower-body relative strength, acceleration performance, and position-specific alterations in body mass are required to maximise the ball-carrying capability and therefore match outcome of sub-elite rugby union players.

The Use of Physical Characteristics to Explain Variation in Ball-Carrying Capability in Elite Rugby Union: A Narrative Review

“…Despite this, Cunningham et al (14) identified no relationship between 10-m sprint momentum and ball-carrying capability among international rugby union forwards. However, 10-m sprint momentum may not be an applicable measure for the forward positions (27) because time-motion analysis has demonstrated that forwards typically perform a greater number of shorter distance sprints during a match in comparison to backs (3), with an average distance per sprint of <10 m (20). Therefore, 5-m sprint momentum may possess greater associations with ball-carrying capability among the forwards, a hypothesis that future research should investigate.…”

“…Specifically, sprint times over 5-40 m have presented weak-to-strong correlations with the number of tries scored, line breaks, tackle breaks, defenders beaten, and meters advanced per carry among international rugby union (14,54) and rugby sevens players (49). In addition, Hart et al (27) concluded that improvements in lower-body relative strength, acceleration performance, and position-specific alterations in body mass are required to maximize the ballcarrying capability of subelite ruby union players because of the large associations observed between these physical measures and game statistics. These studies can provide objective data to inform the development of specific physical characteristics with the fundamental aim of optimizing the transfer of these physical qualities to on-field ball-carrying performance.…”