Abstract
Relative age effect (RAE) refers to the immediate and long-term consequences of age difference within an age grouping. In sporting contexts, it has been widely shown that those born in the first quarter gain an advantage over those born in the last quarter of the year. Rugby Union has received scant attention in relation to RAE. The primary purpose of the present study was to examine the presence and prevalence of RAE in Welsh age grade Rugby Union. A further purpose was to consider how coaches' selection processes have the potential to contribute to the manifestation of RAE. A sequential multi-method research typology was adopted to gain a richer, more contextualized understanding of RAE. Results revealed that RAE was evident in all age groups of Welsh junior club rugby from ‘Under 7–19 yrs'. Odds ratios showed that the magnitude of the RAE increases with the three levels of performance (district, regional and national) above the club game. Further, the process of selection had characteristics that increased the risk of RAE occurring, especially a propensity to use physical characteristics as the primary selection criteria when selecting for representative teams. Also, coaches' overemphasis on game performance and winning appeared to determine that the older, potentially bigger, faster, stronger players are preferred over the younger less physically mature players.
Highlights
Rugby Union is a popular male participation sport in Wales, with total playing numbers exceeding 50,000; 30,000 of those are under 19 years of age
relative age effect (RAE) AND CLUB RUGBY Findings from the present study demonstrated that RAE was evident in all age groups of Welsh junior club rugby from U’7 to U’19
The results of the study indicate that in Welsh age group Rugby Union an unequal distribution of players exists in favour of those born earliest in the selection year
Summary
Rugby Union is a popular male participation sport in Wales, with total playing numbers exceeding 50,000; 30,000 of those are under 19 years of age. The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) organizes its age group players around an August 31st cut-off date in any year, in line with the education system’s academic year. Welsh male rugby union would, appear to possess the necessary propagating conditions (popular male team sport, established talent development pathway and high competition for places) that increase the risk of relative age effect (RAE) bias occurring [1]. Rugby in Wales is subject to a decline in playing numbers with increasing age. The sport loses 32% of its participants between 13 and 19 years of age [2]
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