Anthropometric Properties versus Physical Performance in Rugby ::union:: Forwards and Backs - A Systematic Review

Stoop, Rahel; Hohenauer, Erich; Rucker, Alfred Maria Lorenz; Clijsen, Ron

doi:10.29252/aassjournal.6.2.1

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Unsurprisingly, these anthropometric characteristics vary considerably between forwards and backs and reflect the divergent demands of each position type. Male (3,16,17,22,26,30) and female (12,22) forwards competing at levels ranging from school-age (22) to amateur (26), subelite (16,17,22,26), and elite (3,12,17,26,30) have been shown to be taller, heavier, possess more lean mass, and have higher relative body fat than backs. To date, less information is available regarding position-specific anthropometric values in rugby union athletes, although several investigations have reported differences in anthropometric characteristics within subgroups of male forwards and backs (2,21,25).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Position-Specific Body Composition Values in Female Collegiate Rugby Union Athletes

Harty

Zabriskie

Stecker

et al. 2021

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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Position-specific body composition values in female collegiate rugby union athletes. J Strength Cond Res 35(11): 3158-3163, 2021-Rugby union is a fullcontact, intermittent team sport. Anthropometric characteristics of rugby union athletes have been shown to influence suitability for a given position and affect performance. However, little anthropometric data exist in female rugby union athletes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to report position-specific anthropometric, body composition, and bone density values in female collegiate rugby union athletes and to identify between-position differences in these variables. This investigation was a cross-sectional study involving 101 female collegiate rugby union athletes, categorized as forwards and backs as well as by position (props, hookers, locks, flankers, number 8 forwards, halfback, fly-half, centers, wings, and fullbacks). Anthropometric characteristics of all athletes were measured, and body composition was assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Outcome variables included age, height, body mass, BMI, body fat percentage, fat mass (FM), FM index, fat-free mass (FFM), FFM index, lean soft tissue, bone mineral content, bone mineral area, and bone mineral density. Anthropometric and body composition differences between forwards and backs were identified via independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests, depending on normality of the variable. Between-position differences were assessed using one-way analysis of variances (ANOVAs) with Tukey post-hoc comparisons or Welch's ANOVA with Dunnett's T3 post-hoc test. Significant differences (p , 0.014) were identified between forwards and backs for every anthropometric variable, with forwards displaying greater height (167.7 6 7.2 cm), body mass (81.5 6 15.1 kg), and body fat percentage (28.2 6 6.1%) relative to backs (164.5 6 5.1 cm; 64.5 6 7.7 kg; 21.9 6 3.7%). Likewise, significant differences were identified for every anthropometric variable between several positions (p , 0.01). Significant (p , 0.05) interposition differences were identified within the subgroup of forwards, but not within the subgroup of backs. The present investigation is the first to report position-specific anthropometric and body composition data in female collegiate rugby union athletes. The results of this study can be used by rugby union coaches for recruiting and personnel decisions, to determine a player's suitability for a given position, and to further inform training and nutritional interventions in this population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Position-Specific Body Composition Values in Female Collegiate Rugby Union Athletes

Harty

Zabriskie

Stecker

et al. 2021

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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“…The sport of RU requires a range of fitness characteristics, such as strength, power, speed, and aerobic fitness, in order to perform well and meet the demands of the sport [ 5 , 6 ]. Players all possess varying levels of physical characteristics, such as anthropometric (height, body mass, skinfold) and body composition (lean mass, fat mass, bone mass) in order to achieve adequate levels of the desired aforementioned fitness qualities and to meet specific positional demands of the sport [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Numerous studies have shown that these fitness [ 5 , 7 , 10 ] and physical characteristics [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ] vary greatly depending on the player’s position within the team.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical and Fitness Characteristics of Elite Professional Rugby Union Players

Posthumus

Macgregor

Winwood

et al. 2020

Sports

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This study explored the physical and fitness characteristics of elite professional rugby union players and examined the relationships between these characteristics within forwards and backs. Thirty-nine elite professional rugby union players from the New Zealand Super Rugby Championship participated in this study. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry alongside anthropometrics. Fitness characteristics included various strength, power, speed, and aerobic fitness measures. Forwards were significantly (p ≤ 0.01) taller and heavier than backs, and possessed greater lean mass, fat mass, fat percentage, bone mass, and skinfolds. Forwards demonstrated greater strength and absolute power measures than backs (p = 0.02), but were slower and possessed less aerobic fitness (p ≤ 0.01). Skinfolds demonstrated very large correlations with relative power (r = −0.84) and speed (r = 0.75) measures within forwards, while backs demonstrated large correlations between skinfolds and aerobic fitness (r = −0.54). Fat mass and fat percentage demonstrated very large correlations with speed (r = 0.71) and aerobic fitness (r = −0.70) measures within forwards. Skinfolds, fat mass, and fat percentage relate strongly to key fitness characteristics required for elite professional rugby union performance. Individual and positional monitoring is important due to the clear differences between positions.

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“…Success in rugby union has also been aligned to body mass with the highest performing teams in Rugby World Cups between 1987 and 2007 presenting the heaviest forwards and the heaviest average squad body mass (9). The greater mass of the forwards has been proposed to act as a protective mechanism from impact injuries because these positions are involved in 68% of all collisions during a match (55) and 60% more high acceleration or deceleration impacts than the backs (12), while also presenting a lower risk of injury (23). However, the composition of the additional body mass is vital to performance.…”

Section: Anthropometric Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The anthropometric differences between forwards and backs have been well documented. Stoop et al (55) concluded that forwards were taller and heavier than backs across all tier 1 nations. Success in rugby union has also been aligned to body mass with the highest performing teams in Rugby World Cups between 1987 and 2007 presenting the heaviest forwards and the heaviest average squad body mass (9).…”

Section: Anthropometric Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Physical Characteristics to Explain Variation in Ball-Carrying Capability in Elite Rugby Union: A Narrative Review

Hart

Erskine

Clark

2023

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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Hart, AS, Erskine, RM, and Clark, DR. The use of physical characteristics to explain variation in ball-carrying capability in elite rugby union: a narrative review. J Strength Cond Res 37(8): 1718–1727, 2023—The effectiveness of offensive ball carrying has been identified as a key determinant in elite rugby union try-scoring success and subsequent match outcome. Despite this, there is limited research evaluating the physical qualities believed to underpin the ball-carrying capability among elite rugby union players. The aim of this review was to critically appraise the scientific literature that has investigated the use of physical characteristics to explain ball-carrying capability in elite rugby union. Measures of sprint performance, specifically acceleration, maximum sprinting speed, and sprint momentum have presented weak-to-strong correlations with the number of tries scored, line breaks, tackle breaks, defenders beaten, and dominant collisions recorded among international rugby union players. In addition, unilateral and bilateral vertical countermovement jump height, peak power output, and drop jump reactive strength index have each demonstrated meaningful associations with the number of tries scored, line breaks, tackle breaks, and dominant collisions. However, various measures of maximal lower-body strength have presented only trivial correlations with the game statistics associated with ball-carrying capability. These trivial correlations are likely a result of the inconsistent and inaccurate methods used to assess maximal lower-body strength, with methods ranging from a box squat–predicted 1 repetition maximum to a maximal isometric mid-thigh pull. Further investigation is required to assess the contribution of maximal lower-body strength, agility, repeated sprint ability, and aerobic capacity to ball-carrying capability in elite rugby union. Such robust, objective data could be used to inform the specificity of physical preparation and maximize the transfer of these physical qualities to on-field performance.

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Anthropometric Properties versus Physical Performance in Rugby ::union:: Forwards and Backs - A Systematic Review

Cited by 10 publications

References 46 publications

Position-Specific Body Composition Values in Female Collegiate Rugby Union Athletes

Position-Specific Body Composition Values in Female Collegiate Rugby Union Athletes

Physical and Fitness Characteristics of Elite Professional Rugby Union Players

The Use of Physical Characteristics to Explain Variation in Ball-Carrying Capability in Elite Rugby Union: A Narrative Review

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