INTRODUCTION: To make training effective, it is necessary to calibrate them according to the demands of the competition. While there is some data on senior elite and national level, there is little information about the physiological demands of a match in men academy rugby union players at national level. The aim of this study was to characterize the match activity of under 19 years old academy rugby union players in order to prescribe accurate trainings. METHODS: Thirty-one male academy rugby players of the U19 national championship, (mean age: 16.8 ± 0.7 years, mean body mass: 81.4 ± 17.6 kg, mean height: 179.4 ± 7 cm) have been monitored during 11 competitive matches with GPS. Sixteen players were monitored per game with a least three players per position groups. The total distances, number of accelerations, peak velocity and the distance at high velocity (>21 km.h-1) were quantified. Position groups were defined as the forwards and the backs. The data obtained correspond to a specific position activity over an entire match. Forty-two sequences were included for forwards and thirty-nine for backs. RESULTS: Backs travelled more distance over the game than forwards (5022±432 vs. 5480±565m, p<0.05). The number of acceleration (>2.5m. s-1) for the forwards and backs were 18 ± 9 vs. 26 ± 9 times (p<0.05), respectively. Higher high velocity running was achieved by the backs compared to forwards (26.3 ± 2.9 vs. 29.2±2.3 km.h-1, p<0.05). Backs covered greater distance at high velocity compared to forwards (140 ± 119 vs. 280 ± 114m, p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the physical demands are specific to the positions and should be considered by coaches. It will be possible to create optimized position-specific training programs in U19 men rugby players at national level.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Julkaistu Tekijä Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator