Common Issues and Differences in Motivational Support and the Effects of Rugby for the U-15 and U-16 National Teams

This study determines the differences in opinion of U-15 (20 boys) and U-16 (29 boys) rugby players from Romanian national teams, regarding motivational support (MS) and the effects/benefits (EB) of the sport. The evaluation questionnaire (based on 21 items with closed answers and 7 items with free answers) was applied between 29 November 2019 and 13 December 2019. The statistical calculation indicates the absence of significant differences between the groups for most items, with the exception of financial motivation (where the U-16 group has a higher score, p < 0.05) and the usefulness of rugby for the population as a variant of active leisure (where the U-15 group has a higher score). However, U-15 athletes are more motivated by the examples of elite players, have increased involvement in terms of passion in training and competitions, and assign high scores to their relationships with the coach and teammates, while U-16 players are more optimistic about self-perceived skills as the basis of success in rugby. The U-15 team is more confident regarding most of the benefits of a rugby game, and those in the U-16 team have superior values in the context of favorable effects on attitude, as well as a better ability to concentrate at the levels of academics and sports. Masculine characteristics, the uniqueness, and physical contact are the main factors of attraction for rugby. Over 56% of the players practiced or practice other sports and sports games, with contact sports being at the top. A total of 96% of players suffered injuries, with the legs and arms being the most affected, but 25% of the U-15 group also suffered injuries to the head, with the main causes being physical contact with opponents and the superficiality of the warm-up. Workouts associated with physical training are the most difficult to bear, and the U-15 group is more bored with routine and monotony. A higher level of physical training/self-perceived fitness is the main strength of players, followed by technical and tactical knowledge.