Estimated Energy Expenditures and Energy Intakes of International Female Rugby Sevens Players in Five Days of a Training Camp and Competition Preparation

To understand the energy balance of international female rugby sevens (R7s) players in applied environments, this study estimated the energy intakes (EI) and total daily estimated energy expenditures (TDEE) during a five-day training camp (TRAIN) and phase of competition preparation (COMP) of equal duration. Tri-axial accelerometer devices were worn throughout both scenarios to estimate TDEE, whereas EI was estimated via self-reported food diaries. Energy deficits of -47% (TDEETRAIN: 14.6 & PLUSMN; 1.6 MJ & BULL;day(-1), EITRAIN: 7.7 & PLUSMN; 0.9 MJ & BULL;day(-1), p & LE; 0.001, d = 5.1) and -50% (TDEECOMP: 15.5 & PLUSMN; 1.6 MJ & BULL;day(-1), EICOMP: 7.7 & PLUSMN; 1.0 MJ & BULL;day(-1), p & LE; 0.001, d = 5.7) were observed throughout TRAIN (n = 11; age: 25 & PLUSMN; 4 years, height: 170 & PLUSMN; 6 cm, weight: 71 & PLUSMN; 7 kg) and COMP (n = 8; age: 25 & PLUSMN; 3 years, height: 172 & PLUSMN; 5 cm, weight: 72 & PLUSMN; 6 kg), respectively. Carbohydrate intakes were below the lower range of sports nutrition recommendations in both TRAIN (-62%; 2.3 & PLUSMN; 0.3 g & BULL;kg(-1) BM, p & LE; 0.001) and COMP (-60%; 2.4 & PLUSMN; 0.5 g & BULL;kg(-1) BM, p & LE; 0.001). For protein (TRAIN: 1.7 & PLUSMN; 0.4 g & BULL;kg(-1) BM, COMP: 1.5 & PLUSMN; 0.1 g & BULL;kg(-1) BM), intakes met the lower range of recommendations. Fat intake exceeded recommendations of the percentage of total EI (COMP: 39 & PLUSMN; 5%). Accordingly, the dietary strategies of international female R7s players may warrant optimization, as carbohydrate and fat intakes were less than optimal when compared to current performance-based sports nutrition guidelines.

Automated summary

This study estimated the energy balance of international female rugby sevens players during training and competition, and found energy deficits and suboptimal carbohydrate and fat intakes. The dietary strategies of these players may need optimization.