Anthropometrics of Italian Senior Male Rugby Union Players: From Elite to Second Division

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 674-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Y. Fontana ◽  
Alessandro Colosio ◽  
Gabriela F. De Roia ◽  
Giorgio Da Lozzo ◽  
Silvia Pogliaghi
Keyword(s):  
Body Fat ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
National Level ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Reference Database ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Percentage Body Fat ◽  
National Team ◽  
Rugby Players

Anthropometric evaluation of athletes is necessary to optimize talent identification and player development. Objectives: To provide a specific anthropometric reference database of senior male rugby players competing at different levels in the southern European region. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: In 362 professional players (25 ± 4 y; 138 Italian national team, 97 first-division, and 127 second-division national championships) the authors measured mass, stature, and percentage body fat (plicometry). Mean, SD, and coefficient of variation were calculated for forwards and backs and for positional subgroups. Binomial logistic regression and receiver-operating-characteristic curve were performed to assess which variables best predicted level assignment (international vs national level). Results: For all competitive levels forwards were significantly heavier and taller and had a larger percentage body fat and fat-free mass than backs. The lower the competitive level, the higher the within-role variability observed; furthermore, players in a specific positional subgroup were lighter, shorter, and fatter and had less fat-free mass. Fat-free mass is the variable that best predicts the likelihood of being classified as an international or national player (cutoff value 79.54 kg). Conclusions: The data confirm the specificity in the physical requirements of rugby in individual playing positions at all competitive levels and document significant differences among elite and 1st- and 2nd-division players in the same positional role. These differences may reflect the variable technical abilities, selection, training practices, and requirements of the game among these categories.

scholarly journals Fitness and body composition profiling of elite junior South African rugby players

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Durandt ◽  
S Du Toit ◽  
J Borresen ◽  
T Hew-Butler ◽  
H Masimla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
South African ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
The Body ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sprinting Speed ◽  
Rugby Players

Objective. The aim of this study was to describe the body composition, strength and speed characteristics of elite junior South African rugby players. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. Field study. Subjects. Rugby players (16 and 18 years old, N = 174) selected for the South African Rugby Union National Green Squad. Outcome measures. Body composition, 10 m and 40 m speed, agility, 1RM bench press, underhand pull-ups, push-ups, multistage shuttle run. Results. The under-16 players were on average shorter (175.6 ± 5.7 v. 179.2 ± 6.7 cm), weighed less (76.5 ± 8.2 v. 84.8 ± 8.3 kg) had less upper body absolute strength (77.1 ± 11.8 kg v. 95.3 ± 16.7 kg) and muscular endurance (41 ± 12 v. 52 ± 15 push-ups) and aerobic fitness (87.1 ± 19.4 v. 93.5 ± 15.3 shuttles) than the under-18 players. There were no differences in body fat, sprinting speed (10 m and 40 m) or agility between the two age groups. There were differences between playing positions, with the props having the most body fat, strongest upper bodies, slowest sprinting speed, least agility and lowest aerobic capacity compared with players in the other positions. Conclusion. This study provides data for elite junior rugby players and can be used to monitor the progression of players after intervention while also assisting with talent identification for the different playing positions. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 18 (2) 2006: pp. 38-45

scholarly journals Comparison of the anthropometric profiles of elite youth rugby union players

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-106
Author(s):  
Cristian Solís Mencía ◽  
Juan J. Ramos Álvarez ◽  
Rafael Ramos Veliz ◽  
Mikel Aramberri Gutiérre ◽  
Francisco Javier Calderón Montero
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Bone Mineral ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Percentage Body Fat ◽  
National Team ◽  
Anthropometric Characteristics ◽  
Measured Mass

Background: Anthropometric evaluation of athletes is necessary to optimize talent identification and player development. The aim was to describe the anthropometric characteristics of national under-18 and under-20 rugby team by field positions in two season. Material and method: 152 players of under-18 and under-20 rugby teams were to measured mass, stature, skinfolds, percentage body fat, skeletal muscle mass, bone mineral and somatype between 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 season. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for each national team, groups and positional. The Mann-Whitney U test were performed to investigate differences between national team and by groups. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to investigate differences between positional. Results: The foward units were heavier, taller and had a larger percentage body fat and skeletal muscle mass than back units (p <0.05). The props had a larger percentage body fat (p <0.05) and the seconds row were taller (p <0.05). Conclusions: The elite players of under-20 in Spain are heavier and have a larger percentage body fat and skeletal muscle mass than elite players of under-18. The foward units are heavier, taller and have a larger percentage body fat, skeletal muscle mass and bone mineral tan back units. The props are heavier positional and have larger percentage body fat. The seconds row are taller positional.

scholarly journals Fitness and body composition profiling of elite junior South African rugby players

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Durandt ◽  
S Du Toit ◽  
J Borresen ◽  
T Hew-Butler ◽  
H Masimla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
South African ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
The Body ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sprinting Speed ◽  
Rugby Players

Objective. The aim of this study was to describe the body composition, strength and speed characteristics of elite junior South African rugby players. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. Field study. Subjects. Rugby players (16 and 18 years old, N = 174) selected for the South African Rugby Union National Green Squad. Outcome measures. Body composition, 10 m and 40 m speed, agility, 1RM bench press, underhand pull-ups, push-ups, multistage shuttle run. Results. The under-16 players were on average shorter (175.6 ± 5.7 v. 179.2 ± 6.7 cm), weighed less (76.5 ± 8.2 v. 84.8 ± 8.3 kg) had less upper body absolute strength (77.1 ± 11.8 kg v. 95.3 ± 16.7 kg) and muscular endurance (41 ± 12 v. 52 ± 15 push-ups) and aerobic fitness (87.1 ± 19.4 v. 93.5 ± 15.3 shuttles) than the under-18 players. There were no differences in body fat, sprinting speed (10 m and 40 m) or agility between the two age groups. There were differences between playing positions, with the props having the most body fat, strongest upper bodies, slowest sprinting speed, least agility and lowest aerobic capacity compared with players in the other positions. Conclusion. This study provides data for elite junior rugby players and can be used to monitor the progression of players after intervention while also assisting with talent identification for the different playing positions. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 18 (2) 2006: pp. 38-45

scholarly journals Body composition and energy intake — skeletal muscle mass is the strongest predictor of food intake in obese adolescents: The HEARTY trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 611-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jameason D. Cameron ◽  
Ronald J. Sigal ◽  
Glen P. Kenny ◽  
Angela S. Alberga ◽  
Denis Prud’homme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Percentage Body Fat ◽  
Obese Adolescents

There has been renewed interest in examining the relationship between specific components of energy expenditure and the overall influence on energy intake (EI). The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis was to determine the strongest metabolic and anthropometric predictors of EI. It was hypothesized that resting metabolic rate (RMR) and skeletal muscle mass would be the strongest predictors of EI in a sample of overweight and obese adolescents. 304 post-pubertal adolescents (91 boys, 213 girls) aged 16.1 (±1.4) years with body mass index at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex OR at or above the 85th percentile plus an additional diabetes risk factor were measured for body weight, RMR (kcal/day) by indirect calorimetry, body composition by magnetic resonance imaging (fat free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass, fat mass (FM), and percentage body fat), and EI (kcal/day) using 3 day food records. Body weight, RMR, FFM, skeletal muscle mass, and FM were all significantly correlated with EI (p < 0.005). After adjusting the model for age, sex, height, and physical activity, only FFM (β = 21.9, p = 0.007) and skeletal muscle mass (β = 25.8, p = 0.02) remained as significant predictors of EI. FFM and skeletal muscle mass also predicted dietary protein and fat intake (p < 0.05), but not carbohydrate intake. In conclusion, with skeletal muscle mass being the best predictor of EI, our results support the hypothesis that the magnitude of the body’s lean tissue is related to absolute levels of EI in a sample of inactive adolescents with obesity.

scholarly journals Change of Direction Deficit in National Team Rugby Union Players: Is There an Influence of Playing Position?

Sports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás Freitas ◽  
Pedro Alcaraz ◽  
Chris Bishop ◽  
Julio Calleja-González ◽  
Ademir Arruda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rugby Union ◽  
Drop Jump ◽  
Repetition Maximum ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
National Team ◽  
Standing Long Jump ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
Median Split ◽  
Rugby Players

The aim of this study was to investigate the change of direction (COD) ability and deficits of elite rugby union players, discriminating between position (backs and forwards), and between “faster and slower players”, in multiple COD tasks. Twenty-four male rugby union players from the Brazilian senior National team completed the following assessments: Squat and countermovement jumps; drop jump; standing long jump, horizontal triple jumps; 40-m linear sprint; Pro-agility, L-Drill, and Zig-zag COD tests; and squat 1-repetition maximum. The differences between backs and forwards and between faster and slower performers were examined using magnitude-based inferences. Backs were faster (in both linear and COD speed tests) and jumped higher than forwards. Moreover, they generated an inferior sprint momentum. No differences were found in COD deficit between playing positions. However, when dividing the sample by median split, faster players outperformed their slower counterparts in all power–speed variables and presented higher COD deficits. These results suggest that separating rugby players by playing position might not discriminate players with different COD skills and that the median split analysis is more sensitive to identifying these differences. Furthermore, the present data indicate that faster rugby players are less efficient at changing direction and tolerating higher approach velocities in COD maneuvers.

scholarly journals Influence of Physical and Technical Aspects on Change of Direction Performance of Rugby Players: An Exploratory Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13390
Author(s):  
Tomás T. Freitas ◽  
Pedro E. Alcaraz ◽  
Julio Calleja-González ◽  
Ademir F. S. Arruda ◽  
Aristide Guerriero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Inertial Sensors ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Kinematic Parameters ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
National Team ◽  
Body Kinematic ◽  
Rugby Players

We examined the relationships between change of direction (COD) speed and deficit, and a series of speed- and power-related measurements in national team rugby union players and analyzed the influence of movement patterns on COD ability. Eleven male athletes completed the following physical assessments on different days: day 1—anthropometric measurements, and lower-body kinematic parameters (assessed with eight inertial sensors) and completion time in COD tests (pro-agility, 45° cutting maneuver (CUT), and “L” (L-Drill)); day 2—bilateral and unilateral squat and countermovement jumps, 40 m linear sprint, and bar-power output in the jump squat and half-squat exercises. Pearson’s product–moment correlations were performed to determine the relationships between COD velocities, COD deficits, and the speed–power variables. Differences between players with higher and lower COD deficits were examined using magnitude-based inferences. Results showed that (1) greater sprint momentum was associated with higher COD deficits, particularly in drills with sharper angles and multiple directional changes (L-drill and pro-agility); (2) higher unilateral jump heights were associated with greater COD deficits in the pro-agility and L-drill but not in the CUT; (3) faster athletes were less efficient at changing direction and presented greater trunk and knee flexion angles during COD maneuvers, probably as a consequence of higher inertia.

Determinants of the acetate recovery factor: implications for estimation of [13C]substrate oxidation

2000 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick SCHRAUWEN ◽  
Ellen E. BLAAK ◽  
Dorien P. C. van AGGEL-LEIJSSEN ◽  
Lars B. BORGHOUTS ◽  
Anton J. M. WAGENMAKERS
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle ◽  
Substrate Oxidation ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Recovery Factor ◽  
Acid Oxidation ◽  
Percentage Body Fat ◽  
Oxidation Rates

When using 13C or 14C tracers to study substrate metabolism, an acetate correction factor should be applied to correct for loss of label in the exchange pathways of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. We have shown recently that the [13C]acetate recovery factor has a high inter-individual variability and should therefore be determined in every subject. In the present study we examined the factors that might explain some of the variability between subjects in acetate recovery factor. Data were pooled from four different studies with identical protocols, in which the acetate recovery factor was measured, prior to an intervention, to correct plasma fatty acid oxidation rates. Acetate recovery was measured after 2 h of [1,2-13C]acetate infusion at rest followed by 1 h of cycling exercise at 40–50% of maximal oxygen uptake. Inter-individual variance in acetate recovery was 12.0% at rest and 16.1% during exercise. Stepwise regression revealed that, at rest, 37.1% of the acetate recovery could be accounted for by basal metabolic rate adjusted for fat-free mass, percentage body fat and respiratory quotient (RQ). During exercise, 69.1% of the variance in acetate recovery could be accounted for by energy expenditure adjusted for fat-free mass, % body fat and RQ. In conclusion, we show that the acetate recovery factor has a high inter-individual variability, both at rest and during exercise, which can partly be accounted for by metabolic rate, RQ and % body fat. These data indicate that the acetate recovery factor needs to be determined in every subject, under similar conditions as used for the tracer-derived determination of substrate oxidation. Failure to do this might result in large under- or over-estimation of plasma substrate oxidation, and hence to artificial differences between groups.

scholarly journals BRain health and healthy AgeINg in retired rugby union players, the BRAIN Study: study protocol for an observational study in the UK

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. e017990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Gallo ◽  
Damien McElvenny ◽  
Catherine Hobbs ◽  
Donna Davoren ◽  
Huw Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Healthy Ageing ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
London School ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Rugby Players

IntroductionRelatively little is known about the long-term health of former elite rugby players, or former sportspeople more generally. As well as the potential benefits of being former elite sportspersons, there may be potential health risks from exposures occurring during an individual’s playing career, as well as following retirement. Each contact sport has vastly different playing dynamics, therefore exposing its players to different types of potential traumas. Current evidence suggests that these are not necessarily comparable in terms of pathophysiology, and their potential long-term adverse effects might also differ. There is currently limited but increasing evidence that poorer age-related and neurological health exists among former professional sportsmen exposed to repetitive concussions; however the evidence is limited on rugby union players, specifically.Methods and analysisWe present the protocol for a cross-sectional study to assess the association between self-reported history of concussion during a playing career, and subsequent measures of healthy ageing and neurological and cognitive impairment. We are recruiting a sample of approximately 200 retired rugby players (former Oxford and Cambridge University rugby players and members of the England Rugby International Club) aged 50 years or more, and collecting a number of general and neurological health-related outcome measures though validated assessments. Biomarkers of neurodegeneration (neurofilaments and tau) will be also be measured. Although the study is focusing on rugby union players specifically, the general study design and the methods for assessing neurological health are likely to be relevant to other studies of former elite sportspersons.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Ethical Committee of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (reference: 11634-2). It is intended that results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals, communicated to participants, the general public and all relevant stakeholders.

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