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Purpose: Menthol mouth swills can improve endurance performance in the heat, which is attributed to attenuations in nonthermally derived thermal sensation (TS) and perception of effort. However, research in elite team-sport athletes is absent. Therefore, this study investigated the performance and TS responses to a 0.1% menthol mouth rinse (MR) or placebo (PLA) among elite male rugby union players. Method: Twenty-seven (15 Forwards and 12 Backs) elite male Super Rugby players completed two 3-minute 15-a-side rugby-specific conditioning blocks, with MR or PLA provided at the start of training (baseline), at the start of each 3-minute block (swill 1 [S1] and swill 2 [S2]), and at the end of training (swill 3 [S3]). TS was assessed using the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers 9-point Analog Sensation Scale after each swill and at baseline (preconditioning block). Acceptability was measured after baseline swill and S3 using a 5-question Likert scale. Physical performance was measured throughout training using global positioning system metrics. Results: MR attenuated TS from baseline to S1 (P =.003, SD = 1.01) and S2 (P =.002, SD = 1.09) in Forwards only, compared with PLA. Acceptability was higher only for Forwards in MR versus PLA at baseline (P =.003, SD = 1.3) and S3 (P =.004, SD = 0.75). MR had no effect on physical performance metrics (P >.05). Conclusion: MR attenuated the rise in TS with higher acceptability at S1 and S3 (in Forwards only) with no effect on selected physical performance metrics. Longer-duration exercise (eg, a match) in hot–humid conditions eliciting markedly increased body temperatures could theoretically allow favorable changes in TS to enhance performance—these postulations warrant experimental investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rugby Union is a skill-based contact team sport that demands high levels of both physical capacity and tactical skill. Understanding match demands can help to improve training design and subsequently game performance. In this review, a summary of the literature was conducted to review the current practices and methodologies for quantifying match demands in rugby union. A brief literature search was conducted using two major academic databases, Google Scholar and PubMed, to identify relevant research articles for inclusion in this review. A total of 37 Papers were included based on their relevance to the topic, publication type, date of publication, and research design. Accurate quantification of match demands in rugby union is a complex task that currently requires practitioners to consider different types of technology, sampling duration, positional differences, and type of play to determine locomotive and contact workloads. Practitioners should consider using a range of GPS metrics, including distance in multiple speed zones, accelerations, decelerations, and metabolic measures to develop a comprehensive understanding of the locomotive demands that occur throughout the match. Due to its prevalence and importance to the game, practitioners should include a method of quantifying contacts when evaluating overall match workload, such as video coding. Absolute metric values are useful for quantifying total workload, whilst relative values can be used to understand and replicate match intensity. To assess and replicate the peak demands that occur organically throughout the match, practitioners should consider using the average and worst-case scenario match demands during ball-in-play periods. When evaluating match demands and designing training, player position and type of play should be considered to prepare players appropriately for these unique aspects of the game. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although the acute effects of cold-water immersion (CWI) have been widely investigated, research analyzing the effects of CWI over a chronic period in highly trained athletes is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CWI during an intense 3-wk preseason phase in elite rugby athletes. Methods: A total of 23 elite male rugby union athletes were randomized to either CWI (10 min at 10°C, n = 10) or a passive recovery control (CON, n = 13) during 3 wk of high-volume training. Athletes were exposed to either CWI or CON after each training day (12 d in total). Running loads, conditioning, and gym sessions were kept the same between groups. Measures of countermovement jump, perceived muscle soreness, and wellness were obtained twice a week, and saliva samples for determining cortisol and interleukin-6 were collected once per week. Results: Although no significant differences were observed between CWI and CON for any measure, CWI resulted in lower fatigue markers throughout the study as demonstrated by the moderate effects on muscle soreness (d = 0.58–0.91) and interleukin-6 (d = −0.83) and the small effects (d = 0.23–0.38) on countermovement jump in comparison with CON. Conclusions: CWI may provide some beneficial effect by reducing fatigue and soreness during an intense 3-wk training phase in elite rugby athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this case study was to examine the speed and distance demands of lead rugby union referees, during the 2011 rugby world cup and compare this to existing data from elite players, and sub-elite referees. Global positioning system data was collected during 19 matches from the 2011 rugby world cup from 4 male professional rugby referees. The standardised differences and associated effect sizes (ES) were calculated for the total distance and the distance travelled in six different speed zones. The referees covered more distance than the sub elite referees, with large differences in total distance and 'jogging' (6.1-12.0 km/h); moderate differences in 'medium' (14.1-18.0 km/h) and 'high' (18.1-20 km/h) intensity run; small differences in 'walk' (0.1-6.0 km/h) and 'low' intensity run (12.1-14.0 km/h); and a trivial difference in 'sprint' (≥20.1 km/h). The referees covered more distance than the profession players, with an extremely large differences in 'stride' (13.7-18.0 km/h); very large differences in 'cruise' (9.7-13.7 km/h) and 'high' (18.0-19.8 km/h) intensity run as well as total distance covered; a large difference in 'jog' (5.8-97. km/h); a moderate difference in 'sprint' (>19.8 km/h); and a trivial difference in 'walk'(0-5.8 km/h km/h). The information presented can help inform conditioning coaches that target speed zones up to sprinting (greater than 20 kmhr-1) and distances within the zones reaching up to 7400m need to be considered when developing specific programs for international lead rugby referees. Further, based on the data analysed in this study, rugby referees require a specific prescription of physical activity to meet the extra speed and distance demands compared to both professional rugby players and sub-elite rugby referees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many elite sport performance contexts, overtraining is a critical issue for coaches to understand, recognise and respond to. While the indicators and effects of overtraining have attracted considerable research interest, there are no diagnostic tests that reliably predict impending overtraining. This study explores the practices and beliefs of three highly successful professional elite rowing coaches as they predict and manage the risk of athlete overtraining during crucial periods of intensive training. These coaches took part in a series of semi-structured interviews that explored their practices, philosophies and experiences. The research draws on sociological perspectives pertinent to coaching pedagogy and, more specifically, the tenets of naturalistic decision-making in exploring how the coaches define and make decisions about overtraining. In doing so it recognizes that coaching involves decision-making in complex and demanding situations. The coaches were found to monitor the fatigue of their rowers through observation, communication and measures of training pace. In general, the intuitions and cues that were used by coaches had little in common with overtraining markers or indicators that are promoted in the sport science literature. Coaches’ decision-making was based largely on subjective information and processes that were influenced by a range of stressors unique to their positions. We contend that the research provides an important new perspective on coaches’ definitions and management of overtraining and enables management of overtraining to be better understood as a key element of coaching pedagogy in elite performance settings. In this article we argue successful coaches have unique insights into this topical area and this is worthy of future exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a typical rugby union lineout, the attacking jumper is lifted upwards by two teammates in an attempt to catch the ball above the opposition jumper who is also competing for the ball. A common strategy promoted in New Zealand rugby is for the two lifters to squeeze the jumper up after the jumper reaches an approximate jump height of 20-30 cm. Despite the lineout being an important facet of play, little has been published on the relative importance of the various factors required to optimise the time taken for the jumper to reach their peak catch height. Aims: 1) explore the effectiveness of various jump-and-lift strategies used in Super Rugby; and 2) examine the effects of the jumper's body mass and attempted jump height, and the lifters' magnitude and point of force application on the time to reach peak catch height during the squeeze technique, specifically. Methods: A measurement system was constructed that enabled real-time measurement of catch height and time to reach catch height during lineouts, which was then employed during a lineout training session to explore the effectiveness of various lift-and-jump strategies. From the pilot data, a biomechanical model was developed to explore the impact of change in various factors on time to peak catch height during the squeeze technique. Results: The squeeze technique produced the worst results (i.e., slowest time to peak height) during the training session. The model predicted that the magnitude of the lift force influenced time to reach peak height the most, with the other factors examined having a similar effect. Conclusions: Employing the squeeze technique increased the time to peak catch height by ~20-30% compared to an optimal jump-and-lift technique. These findings have practical applications that can impact the Rugby Union lineout strategies on game day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]