The psychological demands of touch rugby

Abstract

This study quantified and compared the internal and external match demands on regional and national standard male touch rugby players. It adopted an independent measures cohort design where nine regional players (mean age 25.5 ± 5.5 years, body mass 74.2 ± 7 kg, stature 174.1 ± 7 cm) and 12 national players (mean age 27.8 ± 6.2 years, body mass 72.8 ± 3.7 kg, stature 174.5 ± 5.4 cm) were analysed during competitive matches from the 2013 season using global satellite positioning technology (GPSports, Australia). This provided 33 regional and 55 national match files for analysis. Independent samples t-tests detected significant differences (p<0.05) in the time players spent on the pitch (ES = 1.13), total distance (m) (ES = -1.26), total relative distance (m·min-1) (ES = 0.72), relative high intensity (>14 km·h-1) distance (m·min-1) (ES = 1.04), absolute low intensity (<14 km·h-1) distance (m) (ES = -1.25), work to rest for time and distance (ES = -0.98 and -0.94, respectively), total sprint (> 20 km·h-1) distance (m) (ES = 1.0), relative total sprint distance (m·min-1) (ES = 1.39), number and frequency of sprints performed (ES = 0.6 and 1.15, respectively), peak speed (km·h-1) (ES = 0.8) and average match speed (km·h-1) (ES = 0.8), average (ES = -0.61) and summated heart rate (ES = -1.7), and session RPE (ES = -1.7). It was concluded that as differences in match demands exist, coaches should make training as specific as possible, and by doing so, better prepare touch rugby players for competition. Furthermore, improving aerobic capacity and the quantity of sprint/high intensity work performed may assist those players transitioning from regional to national standard.