Rugby Science Update 20
By Lara Paul
The state of play for contact training and coaching in women’s rugby
The purpose of this study was to review the current literature on tackle training in contact rugby codes and highlight key messages for coaches and stakeholders as part of a transdisciplinary approach to improve science, safety and gender equity in women’s rugby. The review looked at female specific injury surveillance, prevention, coaches in women’s rugby and match demands. The current literature is sparse but acknowledges the gendered sociocultural and environmental conditions that have influenced women’s experiences of rugby contact and coaching. One cannot copy and paste what has been done from male literature and expect it to work for women’s rugby. Women’s rugby should be understood and coached in a context‐specific manner, considering the needs of the players, coaches and the training environment. Developing and encouraging coaches to execute safe and effective tackle technical actions has been highlighted a priority in women’s rugby. Researchers in all disciplines have been encouraged to work across all levels of women’s rugby, with coaches and athletes, to understand the whole system of women’s rugby. This allows for a holistic approach to developing women’s rugby further. This review also suggests that adapting and adopting progressive tackle skill training frameworks and gender‐responsive coaching practices can aid tackle skill learning.
This study is published in the European Journal of Sport Science – Open Access.
The aims of this study were two-fold: 1) to describe the Head Acceleration Events (HAEs) experienced by professional men’s rugby union players during contact events using statistical modelling techniques appropriate for instrumental mouthguard (iMG) data, and 2) to explore the differences between contact-event types and positional groups. This observational study was conducted during the 2023 Currie Cup and Super Rugby season. Custom Prevent Biometrics iMGs were provided to all players. Post-match data was downloaded from the iMGs to provide linear and angular kinematics. Video analysis data, provided by Opta, included ruck, ball carrier and tackle data. Accelerometer, gyroscope, and proximity sensor data were synchronized to video timestamps of contact events using Matlab. Each HAE was linked to a contact event if their timestamps occurred within 10 seconds of one another. The results from this study show that as the HAEmax magnitude increased, the probability of occurrence decreased. This results in a relatively small probability of higher HAEmax magnitudes in professional male rugby union players. Tackles and ball carries had a greater probability of HAEmax in higher magnitude ranges than rucks. However, the defensive ruck probability profile was closer to tackle and carry events than attacking rucks. The authors suggest that defensive rucks may warrant greater consideration within the injury prevention interventions. No clear differences were found between positions for any of the contact events. The occurrence of HAEmax was associated with roles players performed within contact events, not their actual playing position. These results of HAEmax occurrence can be used to guide and evaluate future HAE reduction strategies in professional rugby union players. Additionally, these results can guide practitioners in planning and player monitoring.
This study is published in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.
The purpose of this study to quantify changes in body composition, blood markers, energy requirements, strength, and aerobic capacity of women’s international rugby league players during the lead up to the 2022 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC). Twenty-four international women’s rugby league players participated in this study. Players were tested at three testing points: 1) December 2021, at the beginning of the 2022 Women’s Super League pre-season; 2) March 2022, at the end of the 2022 Women’s Super League pre-season; and 3) October 2022, following the completion of the 2022 Women’s Super League season and prior to the RLWC. Data collection included anthropometric measurements (height and body mass), body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), blood profiling, assessments of endurance capacity (VO2max) and isometric strength. This study observed increases in lean mass during the pre-season which aligned with the team’s training goals. Backs demonstrated improvements in VO2max across the three testing points. Interestingly, no significant changes were observed in fat mass, RMR, blood markers, or strength over time. Forwards has a greater body mass and body fat percentages compared to backs. The authors recommend the inclusion of iron profile monitoring in practical settings, especially during intensified training phases, as it can contribute to players’ overall health and performance. Although the iron profiles remained at similar levels across all testing points, it was below the recommended threshold.
This study is published in PLoS ONE.
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