Energetic Demands of Interchange and Full-Match Rugby League Players

Abstract

Cummins, CJ, Gray, AJ, Shorter, KA, Halaki, M, and Orr, R. Energetic demands of interchange and full-match rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 32(12): 3456-3464, 2018-The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the metabolic demands of rugby league for interchange and full-match players in relation to positional groups. Eighteen elite rugby league players were recruited. A time-motion model was used to estimate the energy expenditure and metabolic demands of rugby league match-play using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. This approach uses players' GPS velocity-time curves to examine running velocity. Players were categorized into positional groups (outside backs, adjustables, wide-running, and hit-up forwards) and then further categorized into full-match or interchange players. Compared with their full-match counterparts, interchange wide-running forwards expended greater energy (43.1 ± 6.1 vs. 28.6 ± 7.5 kJ·kg, p ≤ 0.001, effect size [ES] = -2.38) and produced a higher anaerobic index (p = 0.016, ES = 0.56) and mean power (7.4%, p = 0.003, ES = 0.66) per match. Full-match adjustables expended 94.8% more energy (p ≤ 0.001, ES = -2.3) and performed more moderate accelerations (10.1%, p = 0.014, ES = -0.57) and decelerations (7.6%, p = 0.017, ES = -0.8), than their interchange counterparts. Outside backs did not interchange and hit-up forwards rarely (n = 2) played an entire match. Differing metabolic demands were identified for interchange and full-match players across positional groups, suggesting position-specific conditioning drills are required to model the energetic demands of match-play.

The Demands of Professional Rugby League Match-Play: a Meta-analysis

“…The original database search identified 1704 records. A total of 30 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review [8–20, 33–40, 42, 43, 45–51]. An overview of the study selection process is presented in Fig.…”

“…Twenty-seven of the 30 included studies reported on players from the Australian National Rugby League [8–19, 33–40, 43, 45–49, 51] and three studies reported on players from the English Super League competition [18, 20, 42]. One study also reported on international players in England during the Four Nations competition and Summer Tests [50].…”

“…Eight studies did not provide a complete description of subject characteristics [12, 14, 18, 19, 37, 43, 45, 49]. Ten studies reported the actual probability values [9, 12, 17, 18, 20, 34, 48–51], whereas 12 studies reported effect sizes [10, 11, 14, 16, 19, 35, 36, 42, 43, 45–47].…”

“…Eighteen studies (60%) reported on playing time [8–11, 14–20, 33, 34, 43, 45, 47, 50, 51]. Results of the meta-analysis are presented in Fig.…”

“…Total distance was the most reported variable with 21 of the 30 (70%) studies reporting this variable [8, 10–15, 18–20, 33, 34, 37, 38, 42, 43, 45, 47, 48, 50, 51]. Results of the meta-analysis are presented in Fig.…”