Affiliations: [a] Vfsport, Sevilla, Spain | [b] Faculty of Sport, University of Pablo de Olavide,
Sevilla, Spain | [c] School of Sport Sciences, University of Castilla la
Mancha, Toledo, Spain | [d] Spanish Federation of Rugby, Madrid, Spain
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Luis J. Suárez Moreno-Arrones,
Departamento de deporte e informática, University of Pablo de Olavide,
Carretera de Utrera n° 1, 41013, Sevilla, Spain. Tel.: +34 954349200;
Fax: +34 925 268846; E-mail: ljsuamor@upo.es
Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the movement patterns and
physiological demands of an international level male Rugby Union team. Fourteen
samples of running performance, exercise intensity, acceleration and impacts to
the body were taken over the course of 3 games using a GPS device. The players
covered a mean distance of 6162 m per game, with the forwards covering 5853 m
and the backs 6471 m at average speeds throughout the games of 4.3 km/h and
4.77 km/h, respectively. For more than 75.5% and 68.5% of the game
forwards and backs, respectively, were exposed to heart rates above 80% of
their maximal heart rate. The player's time-related work to rest ratio was
1:0.8. Rugby Union can be considered a high intensity intermittent team sport
with many and varied non-locomotor activities and actions that occur during the
playing of matches. These actions and activities greatly increase the exercise
intensity but are registered as being low speed running. Each position in the
field requires specific physiological demands.
