A league-wide investigation into variability of rugby league match running from 322 Super League games

Dalton-Barron, Nicholas; Palczewska, Anna; McLaren, Shaun J.; Rennie, Gordon; Beggs, Clive; Roe, Gregory; Jones, Ben

doi:10.1080/24733938.2020.1844907

Cited by 22 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Super League operates a league-wide microtechnology project, whereby all teams are supplied with the same devices (Optimeye S5, Catapult Sports, Melbourne, Australia). 21 When both teams wore microtechnology devices (matches 1, 3 and 4), raw longitude and latitude global positioning system (GPS) data were analysed to determine the number of occasions and the duration of time SARS-CoV-2 positive players were ≤2 m of other players. 22 Different dwell times (ie, duration of encounters: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 s, respectively) were used to calculate the number of occasions and the duration of time within ≤2 m and to establish the nature of these interactions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 transmission during rugby league matches: do players become infected after participating with SARS-CoV-2 positive players?

et al. 2021

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ObjectivesTo examine the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 positive players and other players during rugby league matches and determine within-match SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk.MethodsFour Super League matches in which SARS-CoV-2 positive players were subsequently found to have participated were analysed. Players were identified as increased-risk contacts, and player interactions and proximities were analysed by video footage and global positioning system (GPS) data. The primary outcome was new positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 within 14 days of the match in increased-risk contacts and other players participating in the matches.ResultsOut of 136 total players, there were 8 SARS-CoV-2 positive players, 28 players identified as increased-risk contacts and 100 other players in the matches. Increased-risk contacts and other players were involved in 11.4±9.0 (maximum 32) and 4.0±5.2 (maximum 23) tackles, respectively. From GPS data, increased-risk contacts and other players were within 2 m of SARS-CoV-2 positive players on 10.4±18.0 (maximum 88) and 12.5±20.7 (maximum 121) occasions, totalling 65.7±137.7 (maximum 689) and 89.5±169.4 (maximum 1003) s, respectively. Within 14 days of the match, one increased-risk contact and five players returned positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) tests, and 27 increased-risk contacts and 95 other participants returned negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests. Positive cases were most likely traced to social interactions, car sharing and wider community transmission and not linked to in-match transmission.ConclusionDespite tackle involvements and close proximity interactions with SARS-CoV-2 positive players, in-match SARS-CoV-2 transmission was not confirmed. While larger datasets are needed, these findings suggest rugby presents a lower risk of viral transmission than previously predicted.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 transmission during rugby league matches: do players become infected after participating with SARS-CoV-2 positive players?

et al. 2021

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“…From the initial 142 microtechnology files, files were removed due to poor signal quality, whereby more than 5% of the raw data was flagged as erroneous and removed, or a total match duration of less than a quarter (i.e., 15 min, which is equivalent to 20 min, within men's rugby league; Dalton-Barron et al, 2020 ). A total of 131 files were included in the analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women's Rugby League: Positional Groups and Peak Locomotor Demands

Cummins

Charlton

Paul

et al. 2021

Front. Sports Act. Living

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The aims of this study were to (a) use a data-based approach to identify positional groups within National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) match-play and (b) quantify the peak locomotor demands of NRLW match-play by positional groups. Microtechnology (Global Navigational Satellite System [GNSS] and integrated inertial sensors; n = 142 files; n = 76 players) and match statistics (n = 238 files; n = 80 players) were collected from all NRLW teams across the 2019 season. Data-based clustering of match statistics was utilized to identify positional clusters through classifying individual playing positions into distinct positional groups. Moving averages (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 min) of peak running and average acceleration/deceleration demands were calculated via microtechnology data for each player per match. All analysis was undertaken in R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing) with positional differences determined via a linear mixed model and effect sizes (ES). Data-based clustering suggested that, when informed by match statistics, individual playing positions can be clustered into one of three positional groups. Based on the clustering of the individual positions, these groups could be broadly defined as backs (fullback, wing, and center), adjustables (halfback, five-eighth, and hooker), and forwards (prop, second-row, and lock). Backs and adjustables demonstrated greater running (backs: ES 0.51–1.00; p < 0.05; adjustables: ES 0.51–0.74, p < 0.05) and average acceleration/deceleration (backs: ES 0.48–0.87; p < 0.05; adjustables: ES 0.60–0.85, p < 0.05) demands than forwards across all durations. Smaller differences (small to trivial) were noted between backs and adjustables across peak running and average acceleration/deceleration demands. Such findings suggest an emerging need to delineate training programs in situations in which individual playing positions train in positional group based settings. Collectively, this work informs the positional groupings that could be applied when examining NRLW data and supports the development of a framework for specifically training female rugby league players for the demands of the NRLW competition.

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“…The Super League operates a league-wide microtechnology project (Project SL-Catapult), whereby all teams are supplied with the same devices (Optimeye S5, Catapult Sports, Melbourne, Australia). [22] When both teams wore microtechnology devices (matches 1, 3 and 4), raw longitude and latitude data from global positioning system (GPS) were analysed to determine the number of occasions and the duration of time SARS-CoV-2 positive players were ≤2 (±1) m of other players [23]. The number of occasions and the duration of time within ≤2 (±1) m, were analysed for different dwell times (e.g., duration of close proximity encounter), to establish the nature of the interactions.…”

Section: Tackle Involvements and Player Proximitymentioning

confidence: 99%

SARS-CoV-2 transmission during team-sport: Do players develop COVID-19 after participating in rugby league matches with SARS-CoV-2 positive players?

Jones

Phillips

Kemp

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Objectives Evaluate the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 positive players and other players during rugby league matches, to determine the risk of in-game SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Design Observational. Setting Super League rugby league during four matches in which SARS-CoV-2 positive players were retrospectively found to have participated (2nd August and 4th October 2020). Participants 136 male elite rugby league players: eight SARS-CoV-2 positive participants, 28 identified close contacts and 100 other players who participated in any of the four matches. Main Outcome measures Close contacts were defined by analysis of video footage for player interactions and microtechnology (GPS) data for proximity analysis. Close contacts and other players involved in the matches becoming positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR within 14 days of the match were reported. Results The eight SARS-CoV-2 positive players were involved in up to 14 tackles with other individual players. SARS-CoV-2 positive players were within a 2 m proximity of other players for up to 316 secs, from 60 interactions. One identified contact returned a positive SARS-CoV-2 result within 14 days of the match (subsequently linked to an outbreak within their club environment, rather than in-match transmission), whereas the other 27 identified contacts returned negative SARS-CoV-2 follow up tests and no one developed COVID-19 symptoms. Ninety-five players returned negative and five players returned positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR routine tests within 14 days of the match. Sources of transmission in the five cases were linked to internal club COVID-19 outbreaks and wider-community transmission. Conclusion Despite a high number of tackle involvements and close proximity interactions between SARS-CoV-2 positive players and players on the same and opposition teams during a rugby league match, these data suggest that in-game SARS-CoV-2 transmission is limited during these types of team sport activities played outdoors.

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A league-wide investigation into variability of rugby league match running from 322 Super League games

Cited by 22 publications

References 28 publications

SARS-CoV-2 transmission during rugby league matches: do players become infected after participating with SARS-CoV-2 positive players?

SARS-CoV-2 transmission during rugby league matches: do players become infected after participating with SARS-CoV-2 positive players?

Women's Rugby League: Positional Groups and Peak Locomotor Demands

SARS-CoV-2 transmission during team-sport: Do players develop COVID-19 after participating in rugby league matches with SARS-CoV-2 positive players?

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