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The movement and physiological demands of international and regional men's touch rugby matches
Beaven, Robert Highton, Jamie Thorpe, Cari Knott, Emma Twist, Craig
Beaven, Robert
Highton, Jamie
Thorpe, Cari
Knott, Emma
Twist, Craig
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Publication Date
2014-05-14
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Abstract
This study compared the internal and external match demands imposed on international and regional standard male touch rugby players. The study adopted a cohort design with independent groups. Twelve international players (mean age 27.8 ± 6.2 y, body mass 72.8 ± 3.7 kg, stature 174.5 ± 5.4 cm) and nine regional players (mean age 25.5 ± 5.5 y, body mass 74.2 ± 7 kg, stature 174.1 ± 7 cm) were analysed during nine competitive matches from the 2013 season. Movement demands were measured using a 5 Hz global positioning system (GPS), alongside heart rate and session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) to quantify internal load. Total distance covered by international players was lower than regional players (2265.8 ± 562.3 cf. 2970 ± 558.9 m, p<0.05). However, international players had greater relative distance (137.1 ± 13.6 cf. 126.2 ± 17.2 m·min) due to shorter playing times per match (p<0.05). Absolute high speed running (>14 km·h) was not different between groups (p>0.05), but relative high speed running (39.3 ± 12.0 cf. 26.0 ± 13.6 m·min) was higher for international players. Regional players performed more absolute low speed activity (≤14 km·h) than international players (p<0.05), whereas relative low speed activity was not different between groups (p>0.05). Very high speed running (>20 km·h) distance, bout number and frequency, peak and average speed were all greater in international players (p<0.05). Higher average heart rate, summated heart rate and s-RPE (p<0.05) indicated higher internal loads during matches for regional players. These data indicate that performance in men's touch rugby is characterised by more relative high speed running and better repeated sprint capacities in higher standard players.
Citation
Beaven, R. P., Highton, J. M., Thorpe, M. C., Knott, E. V., & Twist, C. (2014). Movement and physiological demands of international and regional men's touch rugby matches. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(11), 3274-3279.
Publisher
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Journal
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Research Unit
PubMed ID
24832976
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
This is the authors' accepted version of an article published in Journal of Strenght and Conditioning Research, 2014, 28(11), 3274-3279. This is not the final published version.
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ISSN
1533-4287