MOVEMENT AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DEMANDS OF INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEN'S TOUCH RUGBY MATCHES

Beaven, RP, Highton, JM, Thorpe, M-C, Knott, EV, and Twist, C. Movement and physiological demands of international and regional men's touch rugby matches. J Strength Cond Res 28(11): 3279-3284, 2014This study compared the internal and external match demands imposed on international and regional standard male touch rugby players. The study adopted a cohort design with independent groups. Twelve international players (mean age, 27.8 +/- 6.2 years; body mass, 72.8 +/- 3.7 kg; stature, 174.5 +/- 5.4 cm) and 9 regional players (mean age, 25.5 +/- 5.5 years; body mass 74.2 +/- 7 kg; stature 174.1 +/- 7 cm) were analyzed during 9 competitive matches from the 2013 season. Movement demands were measured using a 5-Hz global positioning system, alongside heart rate (HR) and session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) to quantify internal load. Total distance covered by international players was lower than regional players (2265.8 +/- 562.3 cf. 2970 +/- 558.9 m; p 0.05). However, international players had greater relative distance (137.1 +/- 13.6 cf. 126.2 +/- 17.2 mmin(-1)) due to shorter playing times per match (p 0.05). Absolute high-speed running (>14 kmh(-1)) was not different between groups (p > 0.05), but relative high-speed running (39.3 +/- 12.0 cf. 26.0 +/- 13.6 mmin(-1)) was higher for international players. Regional players performed more absolute low-speed activity (14 kmh(-1)) than international players (p 0.05), whereas relative low-speed activity was not different between groups (p > 0.05). Very high-speed running (>20 kmh(-1)) distance, bout number and frequency, peak, and average speed were all greater in international players (p 0.05). Higher average HR, summated HR, and s-RPE (p 0.05) indicated higher internal loads during matches for regional players. These data indicate that performance in men's touch rugby is characterized by more relative high-speed running and better repeated sprint capacities in higher standard players.