Exposure time, running and skill-related performance in international u20 rugby union players during an intensified tournament.

Christopher J Carling,Eamon Flanagan,Julien Piscione,Mathieu Lacome,Pearse O’Doherty,Jaime Sampaio

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186874

Abstract

PurposeThis study investigated exposure time, running and skill-related performance in two international u20 rugby union teams during an intensified tournament: the 2015 Junior World Rugby Championship.MethodBoth teams played 5 matches in 19 days. Analyses were conducted using global positioning system (GPS) tracking (Viper 2™, Statsports Technologies Ltd) and event coding (Opta Pro®).ResultsOf the 62 players monitored, 36 (57.1%) participated in 4 matches and 23 (36.5%) in all 5 matches while player availability for selection was 88%. Analyses of team running output (all players completing >60-min play) showed that the total and peak 5-minute high metabolic load distances covered were likely-to-very likely moderately higher in the final match compared to matches 1 and 2 in back and forward players. In individual players with the highest match-play exposure (participation in >75% of total competition playing time and >75-min in each of the final 3 matches), comparisons of performance in matches 4 and 5 versus match 3 (three most important matches) reported moderate-to-large decreases in total and high metabolic load distance in backs while similar magnitude reductions occurred in high-speed distance in forwards. In contrast, skill-related performance was unchanged, albeit with trivial and unclear changes, while there were no alterations in either total or high-speed running distance covered at the end of matches.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that despite high availability for selection, players were not over-exposed to match-play during an intensified u20 international tournament. They also imply that the teams coped with the running and skill-related demands. Similarly, individual players with the highest exposure to match-play were also able to maintain skill-related performance and end-match running output (despite an overall reduction in the latter). These results support the need for player rotation and monitoring of performance, recovery and intervention strategies during intensified tournaments.

Highlights

Rugby union is an intermittent team sport requiring players to repeatedly perform bouts of high-speed running interspersed with periods of low-speed activity [1]
Analyses of team running output showed that the total and peak 5-minute high metabolic load distances covered were likely-to-very likely moderately higher in the final match compared to matches 1 and 2 in back and forward players
In individual players with the highest match-play exposure, comparisons of performance in matches 4 and 5 versus match 3 reported moderate-to-large decreases in total and high metabolic load distance in backs while similar magnitude reductions occurred in high-speed distance in forwards

Summary

Introduction

Rugby union is an intermittent team sport requiring players to repeatedly perform bouts of high-speed running interspersed with periods of low-speed activity [1] Intense static exertions such as scrummaging, physical collisions and tackles occur frequently throughout play [2]. Forward and back players at elite senior levels are shown to spend 14% and 8% of their match time in highly intense activities such as sprinting and tackling and in scrums, rucks and mauls [3] Combined, these physical demands are shown to result in high levels of muscle damage [4,5], neuromuscular and perceptual fatigue [6] and compromised immunity [7] post-competition. The time interval separating consecutive matches is sufficient in theory to ensure complete physical and physiological recovery [10]

Methods

Results

Conclusion