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The peak duration-specific locomotor demands and concurrent collision frequencies of European Super League rugby

Weaving, Dan
Sawczuk, Thomas
Williams, Sean
Scott, Tannath
Till, Kevin
Beggs, Clive
Johnston, Rich D.
Jones, Ben
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Abstract
Understanding the most demanding passages of European Super League competition can optimise training prescription. We established positional and match half differences in peak relative distances (m·min−1) across durations, and the number of collisions, high-speed- and very-high-speed-distance completed in the peak 10 min period. Moving-averages (10 s, 30 s, 1 min, 5 min, 10 min) of instantaneous speed (m·s−1) were calculated from 25 professional rugby league players during 25 matches via microtechnology. Maximal m·min−1 was taken for each duration for each half. Concurrently, collisions (n), high-speed- (5 to 7 m·s−1; m) and very-high-speed-distance (> 7 m·s−1; m) were coded during each peak 10 min. Mixed-effects models determined differences between positions and halves. Aside from peak 10 s, trivial differences were observed in peak m·min−1 between positions or halves across durations. During peak 10 min periods, adjustables, full- and outside-backs ran more at high-speed and very-high-speed whilst middle- and edge-forwards completed more collisions. Peak m·min−1 is similar between positional groups across a range of durations and are maintained between halves of the match. Practitioners should consider that whilst the overall peak locomotor “intensity” is similar, how they achieve this differs between positions with forwards also exposed to additional collision bouts.
Keywords
Rugby league, European Super League, collisions, peak locomotor demands, global positioning systems
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Sports Sciences
Book
Volume
37
Issue
3
Page Range
322-330
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences