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Quantifying Collision Frequency and Intensity in Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens - A Systematic Review2.48 MB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Quantifying Collision Frequency and Intensity in Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens: A Systematic Review
Sports Medicine - Open, Vol.8(12), pp.1-38
2022
PMCID: PMC8776953
PMID: 35050440
Abstract
Background:
Collisions in rugby union and sevens have a high injury incidence and burden, and are also associated with player and team performance. Understanding the frequency and intensity of these collisions is therefore important for coaches and practitioners to adequately prepare players for competition. The aim of this review is to synthesise the current literature to provide a summary of the collision frequencies and intensities for rugby union and rugby sevens based on video-based analysis and microtechnology.
Methods:
A systematic search using key words was done on four different databases from 1 January 1990 to 1 September 2021 (PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science).
Results:
Seventy-three studies were included in the final review, with fifty-eight studies focusing on rugby union, while fifteen studies explored rugby sevens. Of the included studies, four focused on training—three in rugby union and one in sevens, two focused on both training and match-play in rugby union and one in rugby sevens, while the remaining sixty-six studies explored collisions from match-play. The studies included, provincial, national, international, professional, experienced, novice and collegiate players. Most of the studies used video-based analysis (n = 37) to quantify collisions. In rugby union, on average a total of 22.0 (19.0–25.0) scrums, 116.2 (62.7–169.7) rucks, and 156.1 (121.2–191.0) tackles occur per match. In sevens, on average 1.8 (1.7–2.0) scrums, 4.8 (0–11.8) rucks and 14.1 (0–32.8) tackles occur per match.
Conclusions:
This review showed more studies quantified collisions in matches compared to training. To ensure athletes are adequately prepared for match collision loads, training should be prescribed to meet the match demands. Per minute, rugby sevens players perform more tackles and ball carries into contact than rugby union players and forwards experienced more impacts and tackles than backs. Forwards also perform more very heavy impacts and severe impacts than backs in rugby union. To improve the relationship between matches and training, integrating both video-based analysis and microtechnology is recommended. The frequency and intensity of collisions in training and matches may lead to adaptations for a “collision-fit” player and lend itself to general training principles such as periodisation for optimum collision adaptation.
Details
- Title
- Quantifying Collision Frequency and Intensity in Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens: A Systematic Review
- Authors
- Lara Paul (Corresponding Author) - University of Cape TownMitchell Naughton (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems ScienceBen Jones (Author) - University of Cape TownDemi Davidow (Author) - University of Cape TownAmir Patel (Author) - University of Cape TownMike Lambert (Author) - Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre (HPALS), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownSharief Hendricks (Author) - University of Cape Town
- Publication details
- Sports Medicine - Open, Vol.8(12), pp.1-38
- Publisher
- SpringerOpen
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1186/s40798-021-00398-4
- ISSN
- 2198-9761; 2199-1170
- PMID
- 35050440; PMC8776953
- Copyright note
- © The Author(s) 2022. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Organisation Unit
- Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99603408302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Sport Sciences