INTRODUCTION: Seven rugby and rugby union are team sports characterized by their specific physical requirements. Even if the practice is rugby, it will be useful to identify specific physical profile in order to guide athletes towards a position that will allow them to best use their qualities. Description of performance levels in international womens rugby is very recent and comparison of physical profile between rugby union position and rugby seven has not been done. This study aims to describe anthropometric and physical characteristics of French woman international rugby union and rugby seven players and to determine if there are specific profiles to each position. METHODS: Anthropometric and physical performances of French rugby union and seven women players were monitored at least two times per years by the French Rugby Federation. Positions, height, weight, body fat, maximal aerobic speed, 10m time, counter movement jump test, maximal bench press and rowing repetition performances between 2009 and 2020 were analyzed using a principal component analysis over 2009 to 2020. A total sample of five hundred and ninety-seven female French international rugby players was used and only the best performance per year of each player were analyzed. RESULTS: Three clusters were detected by the database PCA analysis. In the first cluster, forwards were the most represented (84,9%, p<0.01) and were characterized by a higher weight, body fat, height and 10m time and a lower aerobic fitness (p<0.01). The backwards are the most represented in the second cluster (92,9% ,p<0.01) and were characterized by a higher aerobic fitness and lower 10m time, body fat, height and weight (p<0.05). The third cluster was composed by the seven rugby players (97,8%, p<0.05) and were characterized they have higher aerobic fitness and age, and a lower 10m time, weight and body fat (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of the variables in the study therefore partly explains the specificities of the position and of rugby practice. The PCA can be a decision support tool for the choice of an orientation towards rugby union or sevens rugby as well as for the position.
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