Longitudinal changes in Super League match locomotor and event characteristics: A league-wide investigation over three seasons in rugby league

Abstract

The 2019 and 2020 Super League (SL) seasons included several competition rule changes. This study aimed to quantify the difference between the 2018, 2019 and 2020 SL seasons for duration, locomotor and event characteristics of matches. Microtechnology and match event data were analysed from 11 SL teams, comprising 124 players, from 416 competitive matches across a three-year data collection period. Due to an enforced suspension of league competition as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions, and subsequent rule changes upon return to play, season 2020 was divided into season 2020a (i.e. Pre-COVID suspension) and season 2020b (i.e. Post-COVID suspension). Duration, locomotor variables, and match events were analysed per whole-match and ball-in-play (BIP) periods with differences between seasons determined using mixed-effects models. There were significant (ρ ≤ 0.05) reductions in whole-match and BIP durations for adjustables and backs in 2019 when compared to 2018; albeit the magnitude of reduction was less during BIP analyses. Despite reduced duration, adjustables reported an increased average speed suggesting reduced recovery time between bouts. Both forwards and adjustables also experienced an increase in missed tackles between 2018 and 2019 seasons. When comparing 2019 to 2020a, adjustables and backs increased their average speed and distance whilst all positional groups increased average acceleration both for whole-match and BIP analyses. When comparing 2020a to 2020b, all positional groups experienced reduced average speed and average acceleration for both whole-match and BIP analyses. Forwards experienced an increased number of tackles and carries, adjustables experienced an increased number of carries, and backs experienced an increased number of missed tackles when comparing these variables between season 2020a and 2020b. Rule changes have a greater effect on whole-match duration and locomotor characteristics than those reported during BIP periods which suggests the implemented rule changes have removed stagnant time from matches. Amendments to tackle related rules within matches (e.g., introduction of the ‘six-again’ rule) increases the number of collision related events such as carries and tackles.

Ready for impact? A validity and feasibility study of instrumented mouthguards (iMGs)

“…HitIQ and ORB accumulated more off-camera assumed false-positives, and HitIQ and Biocore-FRI accumulated more assumed false-positives during inactive periods (93.5% of these for Biocore-FRI came from a single iMG, which may have been faulty; online supplemental tables 1 and 2). Therefore, video-verification or alignment to another data-source (eg, time motion analysis of match events21) may be required prior to use in research and/or practice.…”

Ready for Impact? A validity and feasibility study of instrumented mouthguards (iMGs)

“…HitIQ and ORB accumulated more off-camera assumed false-positives, and HitIQ and FRI accumulated more assumed false-positives during inactive periods (93.5% of these for FRI came from a single iMG, which may have been faulty; Supplementary Table 1 and 2). Therefore video-verification or alignment to another data-source (e.g., time motion analysis of match events [17]) may be required prior to use in research and/or practice.…”

Contributors to negative biopsychosocial health or performance outcomes in rugby players (CoNBO): a systematic review and Delphi study protocol

“…18 19 Rugby is a skill-based collision sport characterised by frequent intermittent actions of high-speed running and contact events (eg, tackling, scrummaging), alongside periods of lower intensity work and rest. [20][21][22] The demands of match play are typically specific to the respective playing level, positional groups and codes. 18 20 23 The collision demands (eg, the tackle) are similar across codes, with players involved in multiple collision events throughout a match.…”

“…The rugby codes (rugby union, rugby league and rugby sevens, hereafter referred to as ‘rugby’) are played worldwide by men and women, from youth to senior ages, and amateur to international 18 19. Rugby is a skill-based collision sport characterised by frequent intermittent actions of high-speed running and contact events (eg, tackling, scrummaging), alongside periods of lower intensity work and rest 20–22. The demands of match play are typically specific to the respective playing level, positional groups and codes 18 20 23.…”