Review
Sport Sciences
Lara Paul, Mitchell Naughton, Ben Jones, Demi Davidow, Amir Patel, Mike Lambert, Sharief Hendricks
Summary: This review summarizes the literature on collision frequencies and intensities in rugby union and rugby sevens, highlighting the importance of training and preparing players for the demands of matches.
SPORTS MEDICINE-OPEN
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Mily Spiegelhalter, Sean Scantlebury, Omar Heyward, Sharief Hendricks, Cloe Cummins, Andrew J. Gardner, Matt Halkier, Shreya McLeod, Gemma Phillips, Cameron Owen, Ben Jones
Summary: This study aimed to identify the frequency, propensity, and factors related to tackle events resulting in head contact in elite-level women's rugby league. The analysis of video footage from 59 Women's Super League matches showed an average of 83.0 head contacts per match, with a significantly higher propensity for head contact among tacklers compared to ball-carriers. Contacts from the arm, shoulder, and head were more frequent than any other contact type. The findings can inform interventions to minimize head contact risk factors in women's rugby league.
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN SPORT
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Sarah Whitehead, Kevin Till, Ben Jones, Clive Beggs, Nicholas Dalton-Barron, Dan Weaving
Summary: This study identified key physical and technical-tactical performance indicators that can classify between levels of rugby league match-play. For backs, a combination of PlayerLoad(2D), PlayerLoad(SLOW) per Kg body mass, and high-speed running distance were most important, while defensive play-the-ball losses stood out for forwards in classification. These identified indicators and combinations can be developed in training to aid players in progressing through the rugby league playing pathway.
SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN FOOTBALL
(2021)
Article
Sport Sciences
Cloe Cummins, Glen Charlton, David Paul, Simon Buxton, Aron Murphy
Summary: This study uses a data-mining approach to identify velocity zone thresholds for female rugby league players and applies these zones to examine the locomotor demands of match-play. The results show positional group differences in the absolute and relative locomotor demands at different velocity zones.
SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN FOOTBALL
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
David Eastwood, Cameron Owen, Gemma Phillips, Sean Williams, James Brown, Andrew J. Gardner, Sharief Hendricks, Rich D. Johnston, Keith Stokes, Daniel Tadmor, Kevin Till, Sarah Whitehead, Ben Jones
Summary: This study aimed to quantify the incidence of concussion in male rugby league and compare it between different playing levels. The results showed that the incidence of concussion was higher in the Super League and Academy compared to the Championship, and the incidence in the Academy increased over time. Various factors, such as changes in medical standards and knowledge, may have influenced the identification and diagnosis of concussion.
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN SPORT
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Cloe Cummins, Glen Charlton, Mitchell Naughton, Ben Jones, Clare Minahan, Aron Murphy
Summary: This study assessed the validity of microtechnology devices to automatically detect and differentiate tackles in elite women's rugby league match-play. The results showed that the algorithm was able to correctly detect 76.0% of the tackle events and was more sensitive to detecting attacking events. The study suggests the opportunity to develop a specific tackle detection algorithm for women's rugby league.
JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Zachary L. Crang, Adam Hewitt, Tannath J. Scott, Vincent G. Kelly, Rich D. Johnston
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between preseason training loads, technical match performance, and physical match activities in rugby league. The results showed that preseason high-speed running distance was positively associated with high-speed match activities, but negatively associated with technical performance scores and hit up per minute of match-play.
JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Nicolas Bonnevialle, Lucas Mattesi, Vincent Martinel, Romain Letartre, Hugo Barret, Pierre Mansat
Summary: This study retrospectively enrolled 62 competitive rugby players who had undergone an anterior shoulder stability procedure. Results showed that the Latarjet procedure outperformed the Bankart procedure in terms of stability, time to return to play, and radiological outcomes.
ORTHOPAEDIC JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Cloe Cummins, Glen Charlton, David Paul, Aron Murphy
Summary: The study used data mining on league-wide microtechnology data to identify four velocity zones and examine the locomotor demands of elite match play. The application of spectral clustering provided insights into the distribution of velocity data and suggested that using these identified zones could facilitate standardization, athlete monitoring, and comparisons between teams and leagues.
SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN FOOTBALL
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Amarah Epp-Stobbe, Ming-Chang Tsai, Callum Morris, Marc Klimstra
Summary: By investigating the relationship between the number of contacts and playing time on rate of perceived exertion (RPE), it was found that RPE alone may not accurately represent athlete loading in team sports. Therefore, when monitoring athlete loads, factors such as the number of contacts, playing time, and RPE should all be taken into consideration.
JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Corrado Lupo, Alexandru Nicolae Ungureanu, Gennaro Boccia, Andrea Licciardi, Alberto Rainoldi, Paolo Riccardo Brustio
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of practicing tackles during rugby training on players' internal training load and acute strength loss. The results showed that Edwards training load and session rating of perceived exertion were higher in the tackle training group compared to the non-tackle training group. However, there was no significant difference in upper- and lower-limb strength between the two groups.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS PHYSIOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE
(2021)
Article
Sport Sciences
Cloe Cummins, Glen Charlton, David Paul, Kath Shorter, Simon Buxton, Johnpaul Caia, Aron Murphy
Summary: This study used a data-based approach to identify positional groups in NRL Women's Rugby League match-play and quantify peak locomotor demands by position. It found that backs and adjustables had higher running and acceleration/deceleration demands compared to forwards, suggesting the need for tailored training programs for female rugby league players based on positional groups.
FRONTIERS IN SPORTS AND ACTIVE LIVING
(2021)
Article
Sport Sciences
Viola C. Altmann, Brenda E. Groen, Sascha Groeneweg, Gonnie van der Weijde, Noel L. W. Keijsers
Summary: The study found that the Repetitive Movement Test (RMT) showed validity in evaluating arm coordination impairment in wheelchair rugby athletes, with moderate correlations to other coordination tests. When compared to volunteers without impairment, WR players generally scored lower on the ST, FNT, and RMT, making them suitable as diagnostic criteria for coordination impairment in WR athletes.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Sport Sciences
Sean Scantlebury, Carlos Ramirez, Cloe Cummins, Keith Stokes, Jason Tee, Clare Minahan, Stacey Emmonds, Sam McCormack, Gemma Phillips, Ben Jones
Summary: This study aimed to identify injury risk factors specific to women playing rugby league, determine their importance and feasibility, and identify barriers to managing these risk factors. Poor tackle technique, a lack of pre-season intensity, short training sessions, current medical standards, and limited access to physiotherapists were identified as the most important and feasible injury risk factors.
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Kaley C. Powers, Lana M. Pfaff, Michael E. Cinelli
Summary: The study found that female varsity rugby players who had recently experienced a sport-related concussion displayed a more cautious avoidance strategy when trying to avoid colliding with an approaching person. Despite being asymptomatic, they exhibited reduced agency during dynamic perception-action tasks and noticeable changes in self between pre and post-concussion states.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2021)