The Performance Demands and Technical Determinants for Tackle and Ruck Success During the Pool and Knockout Stages of the Men’s International World Rugby Sevens Series

The purpose of this study was to describe tackle and ruck frequencies across an entire World Sevens Series and specifically compare competition stages (pool vs. knockout stages) and match periods(1st half vs. 2nd half). A secondary aim was to identify tackle determinants associated with tackle performance.

Rugby Sevens is an Olympic sport that has grown rapidly worldwide, both in terms of participation and commercialisation. Understanding the tackle and ruck demands within and between the competition stages may help coaches better prepare for the technical and tactical demands of each stage—both in training and during the transition period between the pool and knockout stages. In addition, understanding which determinants increase the likelihood of tackle and ruck success is needed to develop effective training programmes

Video analysis of all matches during the 2018/2019 International Men’s Rugby Sevens World Series was conducted (n = 449 matches). This equated to 21226 tackle contact events and 6345 rucks events. Each tackle event was further coded for tackle descriptors (type of tackle, direction of contact and point of body contact) and tackle outcomes (successful and unsuccessful).

The study tackle frequencies per match remained consistent across the series and between the different competition stages and match halves. Ruck frequencies on the other hand decreased from the first tournament to latter parts of the series, and fewer rucks were observed in the knockout stage of the tournaments.

Based on these findings, contesting fewer rucks after a tackle may be a tactical consideration from a defensive perspective. With that said, which rucks to contest or not may also play a role, therefore coaches should emphasise better post-tackle decision-making.

In both the pool and knockout stages, the most frequently occurring type of tackle was the arm tackle. In the pool stages, the arm and jersey tackle were also associated with a higher likelihood of tackle success compared to other tackle types. The frequency and higher likelihood of tackle success for arm tackles in Sevens highlights a unique demand of Sevens, which strengthens the argument for Sevens specific tackle training and coaching.

The consistency in tackle characteristics between competition stages and between match halves provides further insights into the unique tackle demands of Sevens, with players requiring robustness to repeatedly perform a range of tackles.

The findings of this study highlight the unique technical-tactical tackle and ruck demands of Sevens, which strengthens the argument for Sevens specific tackle and ruck training and coaching.

This study is published in the European Journal of Sport Science and is Open Access.

de Klerk, F., Jones, B., Maree, W., & Hendricks, S. (2025). The performance demands and technical determinants for tackle and ruck success during the pool and knockout stages of the men’s international world rugby sevens series. European Journal of Sport Science, 25(3), e12269.

Contextual factors matter: A two-year exploration into the impact of contextual factors on elite women’s rugby sevens match-play movement demands

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of contextual factors on the match-play movement demands of both international and domestic women’s rugby sevens players. Quantifying these demands in an elite dual-level tournament across multiple teams, positions, match types, and over two seasons, will help bridge the gap between international and domestic players and better inform talent identification, training prescription, load monitoring, and match preparation processes.

The study used an observational, longitudinal study design to characterise match-play movement demands in international (n = 23) and domestic (n = 42) players across two seasons and nine series of an elite domestic women’s dual-level rugby sevens tournament. In total, across the 65 players, 1461 matches were analysed. Match-play movement demands were assessed through distance, speed, and acceleration metrics. Contextual factors were grouped into four themes: Player, Match, Tournament, and Environment.

Brosnan and colleagues identified that higher intensity match-play movement demands were associated with day 1 of the tournament, the first half, winning and/or drawing the match, closer score lines, playing a top-5 ranked team, playing against opponents closer in the standings, starting the match, playing as a back or speed edge, being an international player, playing in warmer climates, and playing later in the day.

This study highlights how contextual factors can affect match-play movement demands in women’s rugby sevens. Coaches and performance staff can use these results to tailor training, optimise tactical decisions, and manage player workloads. For example, coaches and performance staff can prepare for faster games played in warmer weather conditions, played later in the day, during first halves, on day 1 of tournaments, played with or against more international level players, for backs and speed edge positions, when starting a game, when playing in a top 5 team, when playing against teams close in the standings, and when playing in a game with a close result. Coaches and performance staff members can also use this information in assisting the monitoring of player loads, individual recovery, and developing more holistic return to play protocols.

This study is published in PLOS One and is Open Access.

Brosnan, R. J., Visentin, D., Watson, G., & Schmidt, M. (2025). Contextual factors matter: A two-year exploration into the impact of contextual factors on elite women’s rugby sevens match-play movement demands. Plos one, 20(5), e0322407.

Effects of light-load vs. heavy-load jump squats as priming activities in Olympic female rugby sevens players

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two different priming activities involving an exercise commonly used in professional training settings (the jump squat), performed at two distinct loading conditions (40% vs. 80% 1RM) on a series of speed-and power-related capabilities of Olympic female rugby sevens players, assessed at 6 and 24 hours after completing the priming sessions.

“Priming” are training strategies prescribed by practitioners to top-level athletes prior to competition with the intention of enhancing performance.

In a randomised cross-over set one-week apart, twenty Olympic female rugby sevens players performed a jump squat at either 40% or 80% of half-squat 1RM as the priming exercise. Speed-power performance measurements including counter movement jump, sprint speed at 10- and 40-m, 505 change of direction (COD) speed test, and peak velocity (PV) during the jump squat were measurement before the priming, 6 hours after, and 24 hours after.

The study found that heavier loads do not present any advantage over lighter loads for speed- and power-related qualities after 6-h and 24-h. When applied correctly, for example, using light-loads and low sets of ballistics lifts such as jump squats), priming may improve vertical jumping and power-related qualities, as well as improve linear sprinting and change of direction speed.

This study is published in Biology of Sport and is Open Access.

Loturco, I., Zmijewski, P., Mercer, V. P., Ramos, M. S., Betelli, M. T., Arenhart, I., … & Pereira, L. A. (2025). Effects of light-load vs. heavy-load jump squats as priming activities in Olympic female rugby sevens players. Biology of Sport, 42(2), 85-94.