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Interpreting the physical qualities of youth athletes is complex due to the effects of growth, maturation and development. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of position, chronological age, relative age and maturation on the physical qualities of elite male academy rugby union players. 1,424 participants (n = 2,381 observations) from nine Rugby Football Union regional academies prospectively completed a physical testing battery at three time points, across three playing seasons. Anthropometrics, body composition, muscular power, muscular strength, speed, aerobic capacity and running momentum were assessed. Positional differences were identified for all physical qualities. The largest effect sizes were observed for the associations between chronological age (d = 0.65–0.73) and maturation (d = −0.77 to −0.69) and body mass related variables (i.e. body mass and running momentum). Relative strength, maximum velocity and aerobic capacity were the only models to include two fixed effects with all other models including at least three fixed effects (i.e. position and a combination of chronological age, relative age and maturation). These findings suggest a multidimensional approach considering position, chronological age, relative age and maturation is required to effectively assess the physical qualities of male age grade rugby union players. Therefore practitioners should use regression equations rather than traditional descriptive statistic tables to provide individualised normative comparisons thus enhancing the application of testing results for talent identification and player development. Highlights Practitioners should record and incorporate position, chronological age, relative age and maturation into the physical evaluation of elite academy rugby union players. The regression equations provided within this study offer highly generalisable comparative values that are specific to a players chronological and biological development. Through the use of enhanced player evaluation practitioners will be able to make more informed decisions surrounding talent identification and athlete development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the difference in performance of the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT) across 4 squads in a professional rugby union club in the UK and consider body mass in the interpretation of the end velocity of the 30-15IFT (VIFT). Methods: One hundred fourteen rugby union players completed the 3O-15IFT midseason. Results: VIFT demonstrated small and possibly lower (ES = -0.33; 4/29/67) values in the under 16s compared with the under 21s, with further comparisons unclear. With body mass included as a covariate, all differences were moderate to large and very likely to almost certainly lower in the squads with lower body mass, with the exception of comparisons between senior and under-21 squads. Conclusions: The data demonstrate that there appears to be a ceiling to the VIFT attained in rugby union players that does not increase from under-16 to senior level. However, the associated increases in body mass with increased playing level suggest that the ability to perform high-intensity running increases with age, although not translating into greater VIFT due to the detrimental effect of body mass on change of direction. Practitioners should be aware that VIFT is unlikely to improve, but it needs to be monitored during periods where increases in body mass are evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated physical contact in rugby union is thought to contribute to post-match fatigue; however, no evidence exists on the effect of contact activity during field-based training on fatigue responses. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of contact during training on fatigue markers in rugby union players. Twenty academy rugby union players participated in the cross-over study. The magnitude of change in upper- and lower-body neuromuscular function (NMF), whole blood creatine kinase concentration [CK] and perception of well-being was assessed pre-training (baseline), immediately and 24 h post-training following contact and non-contact, field-based training. Training load was measured using mean heart rate, session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and microtechnology (Catapult Optimeye S5). The inclusion of contact during field-based trainingalmost certainlyincreased mean heart rate (9.7; ±3.9%) and sRPE (42; ±29.2%) and resulted inlikelyandvery likelygreater decreases in upper-body NMF (−7.3; ±4.7% versus 2.7; ±5.9%) and perception of well-being (−8.0; ±4.8% versus  −3.4; ±2.2%) 24 h post-training, respectively, andalmost certainlygreater elevations in [CK] (88.2; ±40.7% versus 3.7; ±8%). The exclusion of contact from field-based trainingalmost certainlyincreased running intensity (19.8; ±5%) and distance (27.5; ±5.3%), resulting inpossiblygreater decreases in lower-body NMF (−5.6; ±5.2% versus 2.3; ±2.4%). Practitioners should be aware of the different demands and fatigue responses of contact and non-contact, field-based training and can use this information to appropriately schedule such training in the weekly microcycle. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]