Men's Rugby Research Articles

ATHLETE TEARING AND REHABILITATION CHARACTERISTICS

ABSTRACT Introduction: The speed and quality of functional recovery after knee cruciate ligament reconstruction directly affect the training effect and competition results of athletes. Objective: To evaluate the effect of early systematic rehabilitation after reconstruction of ligament tears in outdoor sports athletes. Methods: In this study, Liu Mou, an outstanding player of the national men's rugby team, was selected as the experimental object. A rehabilitation training program was adopted, and rehabilitation began from 2 to 5 weeks after reconstruction. Results: After the recovery of the first stage for 4 weeks, the knee extension Angle of the injured limb in Liu's sitting position reached 180 degrees. In the second stage of rehabilitation physical training, the body composition test showed that body fat decreased from 20.8% before rehabilitation to 16.3%. At the end of the third stage of physical training, he could complete the high flip. Conclusions: Through different stages of postoperative rehabilitation physical training, Liu's physical condition fully recovered to a higher level. He could then participate in normal football training and return to the game, indicating that Liu's rehabilitation training after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is effective. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

Designing community sports-based programmes for men with mental illness: A qualitative study of the Offload rugby league programme

Despite the increasing appeal of community sport programmes which focus on men's mental health, the key design characteristics of these programmes, and the roles played by delivery staff in their conception and development, have not yet been systematically or widely studied. In this qualitative paper we address this gap in knowledge by reporting on interviews with stakeholders (n = 18) from north-west of England involved in designing a men's rugby league community-based mental health programme, Offload. Findings suggest that tacit forms of knowledge, developed through years of professional practice and co-production activity, was critical to how men's mental health was conceptualised and the use of existing non-clinical community assets (e.g. professional club stadia) as delivery sites for the programme. The use of non-stigmatising language, supported by opportunities for men to engage in non-threatening and solutions-focused activities, were central to programme design. The use of former professional sportspeople who recall their own lived experience of mental illness, and personal adversity, in programme sessions was deemed important for engendering trust among men and enabling them to engage in modelling alternative forms of masculine behaviour which can enhance mental health and encourage greater help-seeking. The paper concludes by arguing for a relational understanding of community sport and mental health programmes, since our data indicate that by focusing on the networks of relationships involved in Offload and the social contexts in which it was to be delivered, the programme designers effectively leveraged the benefits of their collective expertise to maximise men's engagement.

Post-Operative Chest Pain - Men's Rugby

Post-Operative Chest Pain - Men's Rugby

Did university act with deliberate indifference toward sexual harassment by rugby players?

A campus feminist group met with the University of Mary Washington administration in November 2014 about: (1) a videotape that allegedly depicted some UMW men's rugby players advocating violence against women and (2) anonymous threats against feminist students that were posted on a local social media site known as “Yik Yak.”

Did university act with deliberate indifference toward sexual harassment by rugby players?

A campus feminist group met with the University of Mary Washington administration in November 2014 about: (1) a videotape that allegedly depicted some UMW men's rugby players advocating violence against women and (2) anonymous threats against feminist students that were posted on a local social media site known as “Yik Yak.”

The changes of heart rate and some biochemical indexes of men's rugby players in tianjin during winter training in plateau

The changes of heart rate and some biochemical indexes of men's rugby players in tianjin during winter training in plateau

WORKLOAD SPIKES COMBINED WITH HIGH CUMULATIVE LOAD IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED INJURY RISK IN ELITE RUGBY SEVENS PLAYERS

BackgroundMatch and training demands differ between seven and fifteen-a-side rugby. The association between training load and injury risk has not been examined in elite Rugby Sevens.ObjectiveTo explore the association between...

Match Analysis and Temporal Patterns of Fatigue in Rugby Sevens

Rugby sevens is a rapidly growing sport. Match analysis is increasingly being used by sport scientists and coaches to improve the understanding of the physical demands of this sport. This study investigated the physical and physiological demands of elite men's rugby sevens, with special reference to the temporal patterns of fatigue during match play. Nine players, 4 backs and 5 forwards (age 25.1 ± 3.1 years) participated during 2 "Roma 7" international tournaments (2010 and 2011). All the players were at the professional level in the highest Italian rugby union, and 5 of these players also competed at the international level. During the matches (n = 15), the players were filmed to assess game performance. Global positioning system, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate (BLa) concentration data were measured and analyzed. The mean total distance covered throughout matches was 1,221 ± 118 m (first half = 643 ± 70 m and second half = 578 ± 77 m; with a decrease of 11.2%, p > 0.05, Effect Size [ES] = 0.29). The players achieved 88.3 ± 4.2 and 87.7 ± 3.4% of the HRmax during the first and second halves, respectively. The BLa for the first and second halves was 3.9 ± 0.9 and 11.2 ± 1.4 mmol·L, respectively. The decreases in performance occurred consistently in the final 3 minutes of the matches (-40.5% in the distance covered per minute). The difference found in relation to the playing position, although not statistically significant (p = 0.11), showed a large ES (η = 0.20), suggesting possible practical implications. These results demonstrate that rugby sevens is a demanding sport that places stress on both the anaerobic glycolytic and aerobic oxidative energy systems. Strength and conditioning programs designed to train these energy pathways may prevent fatigue-induced reductions in physical performance.

Positional Differences in Match Running Performance and Physical Collisions in Men Rugby Sevens

This study describes the physical match demands relative to positional group in male rugby sevens. Ten highly trained players were investigated during competitive matches (N = 23) using GPS technology, heart rate (HR), and video recording. The relative distance covered by the players throughout the match was 102.3 ± 9.8 m/min. As a percentage of total distance, 35.8% (36.6 ± 5.9 m/min) was covered walking, 26.0% (26.6 ± 5.5 m/min) jogging, 10.0% (10.2 ± 2.4 m/min) running at low intensity, 14.2% (14.5 ± 4.0 m/min) at medium intensity, 4.6% (4.7 ± 1.6 m/min) at high intensity, and 9.5% (9.7 ± 3.7 m/min) sprinting. For the backs, a substantial decrease in total distance and distance covered at low, medium, and high intensity was observed in the second half. Forwards exhibited a substantial decrease in the distance covered at medium intensity, high intensity, and sprinting in the 2nd half. Backs covered substantially more total distance at medium and sprinting speeds than forwards. In addition, the maximum length of sprint runs was substantially greater for the backs than forwards. On the contrary, forwards performed more tackles. The mean HR during the match in backs and forwards was similar, with the exception of time spent at HR intensities >90%HRmax, which was substantially higher in forwards. These findings provide a description of the different physical demands placed on rugby sevens backs and forwards. This information may be helpful in the development of positional and/or individualized physical-fitness training programs.

Running Demands and Heart Rate Responses in Men Rugby Sevens

The purpose of this study was to examine match running performance and exercise intensity in a Rugby Sevens (7s) team during competitive club-level matches. Time-motion analyses (global position system) were performed on 7 male rugby players during 5 competitive matches in a 2-day tournament. The players covered an average distance of 1,580.8 ± 146.3 m per game (14 minutes). Over this distance, 34.8% (549.7 ± 79.1 m) was spent standing and walking, 26.2% (414.8 ± 105.1 m) jogging, 9.8% (154.6 ± 53.5 m) cruising, 15.5% (244.5 ± 80.1 m) striding, 5% (79.5 ± 37.2 m) high-intensity running, and 8.7% (137.7 ± 84.9 m) sprinting. The average maximal distance of sprints, the number of sprints, the minimum distance of sprint, and the mean sprint distance over the game were 29.5 ± 11.7 m, 7.4 ± 3.9 sprints, 9.1 ± 5.7 m, and 18 ± 7.6 m, respectively. The player's work-to-rest ratio was 1:0.5. For over 75% of the game, the players were exposed to heart rates (HRs) >80% of their maximal HR. There were no statistical differences between the first and second halves in any of the variables analyzed. This study indicates that the physical demands of Rugby 7s are quite different from those encountered in other rugby codes and that the training regimes need to meet the increased overall running demands, the augmented high-intensity running actions, and the reduced work-to-rest ratios.

What Kind of Woman Coaches Men's Rugby?

What Kind of Woman Coaches Men's Rugby?

Encyclopedia of sports management and marketing

Encyclopedia of Sports Management and Marketing. Edited by Linda E. Swayne and Mark Dodds. Los Angeles: Sage Reference, 2011. 4 vols. $695 (ISBN: 978-1-4129-7382-3). E-book available (ISBN: 978-1-412-99415-6), $895. According to the publisher, the goal of this four-volume reference work is to provide comprehensive and authoritative overview of the state of sports management and marketing today (publisher's publicity flyer). The coeditors, both highly qualified academics with established credentials, also feel that this fairly new academic field needs a work that covers its very wide spectrum and helps legitimize this area as an academic discipline. The 328 authors of the entries are all from colleges and universities; they are listed with their affiliation in volume 1. Full color illustrations are scattered throughout the text. The 825+ entries are arranged alphabetically and are the meat of the encyclopedia. They range from around one to eight pages. Each United States and Canadian professional team has an entry that goes beyond history and key figures to include brand management, marketing challenges, and ownership. One of the more interesting entries is Integration of Sport, Globalization, and Commercialization. The author begins with a general discussion of the terms and then narrows it down to sport. After that, sport, place, and commerce is discussed, then two case studies. One is about the branding of the New Zealand Blacks men's rugby team and the second about Michael Jordan as representative of the evolving nature of commercialization, globalization, and sport. A further case focuses on challenges facing female athletes. The author concludes the entry with his name and affiliation, five see also references, and seven further reading suggestions which include books, journal articles, and online references. Sports marketing is addressed in two ways: marketing of sports and sport-related products and the marketing of non-sports products and brands through sports figures or events. The terms and examples in this encyclopedia range from the very broad (Benchmarking) to the less broad (Tort Issues in Sports), to the very specific (Pricing of Parking). Front contents include a reader's guide, which groups the entries into 21 broad topics ranging from advertising (29 entries) to team management and marketing (138 entries). Other topics include sponsorship, social marketing, news media, legal, and financing of sports. A sixteen-page alphabetical list of entries appears at the front of each volume. …

Inclusive masculinity theory and the gendered politics of men's rugby

This ethnographic research uses one year of participant observation and 24 interviews to examine the construction of masculinity among team-members within a highly successful rugby squad, at a high-ranked academic university in England. We find that the players and coaches share a sporting field in which variations in their gendered belief systems are sharply contested. Teammates believe their coaches to be exhibiting an out-of-date, orthodox version of masculinity, and instead of adopting their coaches' perspectives on masculinity, players take a more inclusive approach to masculinity-making. The players on this team – all of whom identify as heterosexual – contest three fundamental principles of orthodox masculinity: homophobia, misogyny, and excessive risk-taking. These men do not degrade women or gay men in any measureable manner, and they are emotionally supportive of each other when ill or injured. We suggest that these results require a new way for theorizing about masculinity, and we therefore propose inclusive masculinity theory to frame our data and discuss our participants' complicated association with the political project of adopting more inclusive attitudes toward masculinity.

Incidence, severity, aetiology and type of neck injury in men's amateur rugby union: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundThere is a paucity of epidemiological data on neck injury in amateur rugby union populations. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, severity, aetiology and type of neck injury in Australian men's amateur rugby union.MethodsData was collected from a cohort of 262 participants from two Australian amateur men's rugby union clubs via a prospective cohort study design. A modified version of the Rugby Union Injury Report Form for Games and Training was used by the clubs physiotherapist or chiropractor in data collection.ResultsThe participants sustained 90 (eight recurrent) neck injuries. Exposure time was calculated at 31143.8 hours of play (12863.8 hours of match time and 18280 hours of training). Incidence of neck injury was 2.9 injuries/1000 player-hours (95%CI: 2.3, 3.6). As a consequence 69.3% neck injuries were minor, 17% mild, 6.8% moderate and 6.8% severe. Neck compression was the most frequent aetiology and was weakly associated with severity. Cervical facet injury was the most frequent neck injury type.ConclusionsThis is the first prospective cohort study in an amateur men's rugby union population since the inception of professionalism that presents injury rate, severity, aetiology and injury type data for neck injury. Current epidemiological data should be sought when evaluating the risks associated with rugby union football.

Epidemiology of Ankle Sprain at the United States Military Academy

Background Ankle sprain is a common injury in athletic populations that results in significant time lost to injury. Hypothesis The incidence rates (IRs) of ankle ligament sprains are influenced by gender, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), physical conditioning, level of competition, type of sport, and athlete exposure to sport. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods A longitudinal cohort study was performed to determine the effect of risk factors for ankle sprain at the United States Military Academy between 2005 and 2007. Results A total 614 cadets sustained new ankle sprains during 10 511 person-years at risk, resulting in an overall IR of 58.4 per 1000 person-years. Women (96.4), compared with men (52.7), had a significantly increased rate ratio (IRR) for ankle sprain of 1.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-2.20). Men with ankle sprains had higher mean height, weight, and BMI than uninjured men (P < .001). Men with ankle sprains had higher average scores in push-ups, sit-ups, and run time than uninjured men (P < .001). Ankle sprain occurred most commonly during athletics (64.1%). Ankle sprain IR did not significantly differ between intercollegiate and intramural athletic competition after controlling for athlete-exposure (IRR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.81-1.37). The ankle sprain IRR of female compared with male intercollegiate athletes was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.67-1.32) per 1000 person-years and 1.04 (95% CI, 0.74-1.47) per 1000 athlete-exposures. The intercollegiate sports of men's rugby, women's cheerleading, and men's/women's basketball, soccer, and lacrosse had the highest ankle sprain IR. Conclusion Higher mean height and weight in men, increased BMI in men, greater physical conditioning in men, and athlete exposure to selected sports were all risk factors for ankle sprain.

Unique crisis response strategies in sports public relations: Rugby league and the case for diversion

Sport is a unique ‘product’ in that most of its messages and images are conveyed through media coverage rather than through advertising or sales campaigns. While the coverage is usually positive, media interest becomes more problematic in high profile scandals which can be very damaging. In this paper, we propose that the culture of elite men's sport and its interdependence with mass media creates a situation in which sports public relations personnel have access to crisis communication strategies not previously specified in the existing literature. Based on textual analysis of media coverage of an Australasian men's rugby league salary cap scandal, we argue that, in certain situations, a sports organisation may draw upon a crisis response strategy that we term diversion in order to successfully limit the damage to the organisation's reputation. In particular, we suggest that the often intense ‘relationship’ that fans have with players may allow team sports to focus attention on players (and fans) as innocent victims with the result that negative publicity for the sport overall is reduced.