Relationship Between Midweek Training Measures of Testosterone and Cortisol Concentrations and Game Outcome in Professional Rugby Union Matches

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 3447-3452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Gaviglio ◽  
Christian J. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Rugby Union ◽  
Game Outcome

Relationship between match statistics, game outcome and pre-match hormonal state in professional rugby union

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 522-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Christopher Gaviglio ◽  
Nicolas James ◽  
T. Blair Crewther ◽  
P. Liam Kilduff ◽  
J. Christian Cook
Keyword(s):  
Rugby Union ◽  
Game Outcome

Relationship Between Pregame Concentrations of Free Testosterone and Outcome in Rugby Union

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 324-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Gaviglio ◽  
Blair T. Crewther ◽  
Liam P. Kilduff ◽  
Keith A. Stokes ◽  
Christian J. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Performance Analysis ◽  
Free Testosterone ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Performance Score ◽  
Weekly Training ◽  
Game Outcome ◽  
Rugby Players ◽  
Cortisol Ratio

Purpose:To assess the measures of salivary free testosterone and cortisol concentrations across selected rugby union matches according to game outcome.Methods:Twenty-two professional male rugby union players were studied across 6 games (3 wins and 3 losses). Hormone samples were taken 40 min before the game and 15 min after. The hormonal data were grouped and compared against competition outcomes. These competition outcomes included wins and losses and a game-ranked performance score (1–6).Results:Across the entire team, pregame testosterone concentrations were significantly higher during winning games than losses (P = 5.8 × 10−5). Analysis by playing position further revealed that, for the backs, pregame testosterone concentrations (P = 3.6 × 10−5) and the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio T:C (P = .038) were significantly greater before a win than a loss. Game-ranked performance score correlated to the team’s pregame testosterone concentrations (r = .81, P = .049). In backs, pregame testosterone (r = .91, P = .011) and T:C (r = .81, P = .05) also correlated to game-ranked performance. Analysis of the forwards’ hormone concentrations did not distinguish between game outcomes, nor did it correlate with game-ranked performance. Game venue (home vs away) only affected postgame concentrations of testosterone (P = .018) and cortisol (P = 2.58 × 10−4).Conclusions:Monitoring game-day concentrations of salivary free testosterone may help identify competitive readiness in rugby union matches. The link between pregame T:C and rugby players in the back position suggests that monitoring weekly training loads and enhancing recovery modalities between games may also assist with favorable performance and outcome in rugby union matches.

scholarly journals Applied Sport Science for Male Age-Grade Rugby Union in England

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Till ◽  
Jonathon Weakley ◽  
Dale B. Read ◽  
Padraic Phibbs ◽  
Josh Darrall-Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rugby Union ◽  
Sport Science ◽  
Male Age

scholarly journals Padded Headgear does not Reduce the Incidence of Match Concussions in Professional Men’s Rugby Union: A Case-control Study of 417 Cases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith A. Stokes ◽  
Matthew Cross ◽  
Sean Williams ◽  
Carly McKay ◽  
Brent E. Hagel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Head Injuries ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Video Footage ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Nested Case Control

AbstractConcussion is the most common match injury in rugby union. Some players wear padded headgear, but whether this protects against concussion is unclear. In professional male rugby union players, we examined: (i) the association between the use of headgear and match concussion injury incidence, and (ii) whether wearing headgear influenced time to return to play following concussion. Using a nested case-control within a cohort study, four seasons (2013–2017) of injury data from 1117 players at the highest level of rugby union in England were included. Cases were physician-diagnosed concussion injuries. Controls were other contact injuries (excluding all head injuries). We determined headgear use by viewing video footage. Sixteen percent of cases and controls wore headgear. Headgear use had no significant effect on concussion injury incidence (adjusted odds ratio=1.05, 95% CI: 0.71–1.56). Median number of days absent for concussion whilst wearing headgear was 8 days, compared with 7 days without headgear. Having sustained a concussion in the current or previous season increased the odds of concussion more than four-fold (odds ratio=4.55, 95% CI: 3.77–5.49). Wearing headgear was not associated with lower odds of concussions or a reduced number of days' absence following a concussion.

scholarly journals Sleep and Performance during a Preseason in Elite Rugby Union Athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4612
Author(s):  
Angus R. Teece ◽  
Christos K. Argus ◽  
Nicholas Gill ◽  
Martyn Beaven ◽  
Ian C. Dunican ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Aerobic Capacity ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Sleep Quantity ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Wrist Actigraphy ◽  
And Performance ◽  
H 30

Background: Preseason training optimises adaptations in the physical qualities required in rugby union athletes. Sleep can be compromised during periods of intensified training. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between sleep quantity and changes in physical performance over a preseason phase in professional rugby union athletes. Methods: Twenty-nine professional rugby union athletes (Mean ± SD, age: 23 ± 3 years) had their sleep duration monitored for 3 weeks using wrist actigraphy. Strength and speed were assessed at baseline and at week 3. Aerobic capacity and body composition were assessed at baseline, at week 3 and at week 5. Participants were stratified into 2 groups for analysis: <7 h 30 min sleep per night (LOW, n = 15) and >7 h 30 min sleep per night (HIGH, n = 14). Results: A significant group x time interaction was determined for aerobic capacity (p = 0.02, d = 1.25) at week 3 and for skinfolds at week 3 (p < 0.01, d = 0.58) and at week 5 (p = 0.02, d = 0.92), in favour of the HIGH sleep group. No differences were evident between groups for strength or speed measures (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: This study highlights that longer sleep duration during the preseason may assist in enhancing physical qualities including aerobic capacity and body composition in elite rugby union athletes.

scholarly journals Eccentric Force-Velocity Characteristics during a Novel Squat Protocol in Trained Rugby Union Athletes—Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Conor McNeill ◽  
C. Martyn Beaven ◽  
Daniel T. McMaster ◽  
Nicholas Gill
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Dynamic Performance ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Force Development ◽  
Back Squat ◽  
Force Velocity ◽  
Force Time ◽  
Change In Mean

Eccentric strength characteristics have been shown to be important factors in physical performance. Many eccentric tests have been performed in isolation or with supramaximal loading. The purpose of this study was to investigate within- and between- session reliability of an incremental eccentric back squat protocol. Force plates and a linear position transducer captured force-time-displacement data across six loading conditions, separated by at least seven days. The reliability of eccentric specific measurements was assessed using coefficient of variation (CV), change in mean, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Eccentric peak force demonstrated good ICC (≥0.82) and TE (≤7.3%) for each load. Variables based on mean data were generally less reliable (e.g., mean rate of force development, mean force, mean velocity). This novel protocol meets acceptable levels of reliability for different eccentric-specific measurements although the extent to which these variables affect dynamic performance requires further research.

High-intensity Activity in European vs. National Rugby Union Games in the best 2014–2015 Team

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charly Fornasier-Santos ◽  
Gregoire P Millet ◽  
Paul Stridgeon ◽  
Olivier Girard ◽  
Franck Brocherie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Positioning System ◽  
High Intensity ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Positioning System ◽  
Competition Level ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Running Pattern

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of competition level on running patterns for five playing position in the most successful 2014–2015 European rugby union team. Seventeen French rugby union championship and seven European rugby Champions Cup games were analysed. Global positioning system (sampling: 10 Hz) were used to determine high-speed movements, high-intensity accelerations, repeated high-intensity efforts and high-intensity micro-movements characteristics for five positional groups. During European Champions Cup games, front row forwards performed a higher number of repeated high-intensity efforts compared to National championship games (5.8±1.6 vs. 3.6±2.3; +61.1%), and back row forwards travelled greater distance both at high-speed movements (3.4±1.8 vs. 2.4±0.9 m·min-1; +41.7%) and after high-intensity accelerations (78.2±14.0 vs. 68.1 ±13.4 m; +14.8%). In backs, scrum halves carried out more high-intensity accelerations (24.7±3.1 vs. 14.8±5.0; +66.3%) whereas outside backs completed a higher number of high-speed movements (62.7±25.4 vs. 48.3±17.0; +29.8%) and repeated high-intensity efforts (13.5±4.6 vs. 9.7±4.9;  +39.2%). These results highlighted that the competition level affected the high-intensity activity differently among the five playing positions. Consequently, training programs in elite rugby should be tailored taking into account both the level of competition and the high-intensity running pattern of each playing position.

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