Author
Listed:
- Matthew R. Blair
- Aaron T. Scanlan
- Michele Lastella
- Codi Ramsey
- Nathan Elsworthy
Abstract
This study examined the relationships between physical fitness attributes and match demands in lead rugby union referees. Eleven referees underwent anthropometric and fitness assessments (40-m sprint, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, 1.2-km shuttle run) prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Match activities were assessed via global positioning system devices (total distance, high-speed running distance [>5 m·s−1], average speed, and peak intensities over 1-min, 5-min, and 10-min epochs) and heart rate variables were measured using chest-worn monitors (HRmean, summated-heart-rate-zones, time above 90% HRmax). Forty-metre sprint time was significantly related to maximum speed (P = 0.004; r = −0.79) and high-speed running distance (P = 0.037, r = −0.63) during matches. Likewise, ∑7 skinfold thickness was significantly correlated with high-speed running distance (P = 0.01, r = −0.72). Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, 1.2-km Shuttle Run Test, age, and body mass index exhibited non-significant correlations (P > 0.05, r = −0.58 to 0.53) with match demand variables. Results suggest it may be pertinent for referees to optimise sprint capacity and body fat composition to execute greater high-speed running volumes and reach higher peak speeds during matches. Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test and 1.2-km shuttle run tests are not correlated to specific match activity variables and thus may not be relevant for monitoring of rugby union referees.
Suggested Citation
Matthew R. Blair & Aaron T. Scanlan & Michele Lastella & Codi Ramsey & Nathan Elsworthy, 2022.
"The relationships between physical fitness attributes and match demands in rugby union referees officiating the 2019 Rugby World Cup,"
International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 183-194, January.
Handle:
RePEc:taf:rpanxx:v:22:y:2022:i:1:p:183-194
DOI: 10.1080/24748668.2022.2031527
Download full text from publisher
As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.
Corrections
All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:rpanxx:v:22:y:2022:i:1:p:183-194. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.
If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.
We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .
If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.
For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/RPAN20 .
Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through
the various RePEc services.