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Bigger, stronger, faster, fitter: The differences in physical qualities of school and academy rugby union players
Jones, Ben Weaving, Dan Tee, Jason Darrall-Jones, Joshua David Weakley, Jonathon Phibbs, Padraic J. Read, Dale B. Roe, Gregory A. B. Hendricks, Sharief Till, Kevin
Jones, Ben
Weaving, Dan
Tee, Jason
Darrall-Jones, Joshua David
Weakley, Jonathon
Phibbs, Padraic J.
Read, Dale B.
Roe, Gregory A. B.
Hendricks, Sharief
Till, Kevin
Abstract
Limited research has compared the physical qualities of adolescent rugby union (RU) players across differing playing standards. This study therefore compared the physical qualities of academy and school Under-18 RU players. One-hundred and eighty-four (professional regional academy, n = 55 school, n = 129) male RU players underwent a physical testing battery to quantify height, body mass, strength (bench press and pull-up), speed (10, 20 and 40 m), 10 m momentum (calculated; 10 m velocity * body mass) and a proxy measure of aerobic fitness (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1; IRTL1). The practical significance of differences between playing levels were assessed using magnitude-based inferences. Academy players were taller (very likely small), heavier (likely moderate) and stronger (bench press possibly large; pull-up plus body mass likely small) than school players. Academy players were faster than school players over 20 and 40 m (possibly and likely small), although differences in 10 m speed were not apparent (possibly trivial). Academy players displayed greater 10 m momentum (likely moderate) and greater IRTL1 performance (likely small) than school players. These findings suggest that body size, strength, running momentum, 40 m speed and aerobic fitness contribute to a higher playing standard in adolescent rugby union.
Keywords
talent identification, talent development, youth sport, sport science, coaching
Date
2018
Type
Journal article
Journal
Journal of Sports Sciences
Book
Volume
36
Issue
21
Page Range
2399-2404
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled