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Repeated high-intensity exercise in professional

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Repeated high-intensity exercise in professional rugby

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a b c
Damien Austin , Tim Gabbett & David Jenkins
a
Sydney Roosters Rugby League Football Club, Sydney, NSW, Australia
b
School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
c
School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia

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 Journal of Sports Sciences, 2011; 1–8, iFirst article

Repeated high-intensity exercise in professional rugby union

DAMIEN AUSTIN, TIM GABBETT, & DAVID JENKINS

1
Sydney Roosters Rugby League Football Club, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic
University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and 3School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland,
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

(Accepted 15 April 2011)

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Abstract
The aim of the present study was to describe the frequency, duration, and nature of repeated high-intensity exercise in Super
14 rugby union. Time–motion analysis was used during seven competition matches over the 2008 and 2009 Super 14
seasons; five players from each of four positional groups (front row forwards, back row forwards, inside backs, and outside
backs) were assessed (20 players in total). A repeated high-intensity exercise bout was considered to involve three or more
sprints, and/or tackles and/or scrum/ruck/maul activities within 21 s during the same passage of play. The range of repeated
high-intensity exercise bouts for each group in a match was as follows: 11–18 for front row forwards, 11–21 for back row
forwards, 13–18 for inside backs, and 2–11 for outside backs. The durations of the most intense repeated high-intensity
exercise bouts for each position ranged from 53 s to 165 s and the minimum recovery periods between repeated high-
intensity exercise bouts ranged from 25 s for the back row forwards to 64 s for the front row forwards. The present results
show that repeated high-intensity exercise bouts vary in duration and activities relative to position but all players in a game
will average at least 10 changes in activity in the most demanding bouts and complete at least one tackle and two sprints. The
most intense periods of activity are likely to last as long as 120 s and as little as 25 s recovery may separate consecutive
repeated high-intensity exercise bouts. The present findings can be used by coaches to prepare their players for the most
demanding passages of play likely to be experienced in elite rugby union.

Keywords: Time–motion analysis, repeated sprints, rugby union

4080 m, 5530 m, and 5750 m respectively. Duthie

Introduction
Understanding the physiological demands of a sport is
important for coaches to deliver training programmes
that elicit appropriate and specific physiological
adaptations in their players (Dawson, Fitzsimmons,
& Ward 1993; Duthie, Pyne, & Hooper, 2003, 2005;
Edgecomb & Norton, 2006; Roberts, Trewartha,
Higgitt, El-Abd, & Stokes, 2008). One approach used
by coaches and sport scientists to assess the competi-
tion demands on athletes is time–motion analysis.
Recent studies using time–motion analysis in rugby
union have confirmed that the accumulated distance
sprinted by players during most games is relatively
small compared with the total distance they cover in a
match through forward or backward walking or
jogging (Duthie et al., 2003, 2005; Eaton & George,
2006; McLean, 1992).
Duthie et al. (2003) established that Super 12
rugby props and locks covered 4400 m during a
match, while the average distance covered by the back
row forwards, inside backs, and outside backs was
et al. (2005) also found that players spent 15% of
their time in high-intensity activities with the forwards
sprinting, on average, 15 m on 13 occasions, and
backs 20 m on 24 occasions. In a more recent study
with players in the English Premiership competition,
Roberts et al. (2008) reported the average distances
covered in a game to be 5408 m for tight forwards,
5812 m for loose forwards, 6055 m for inside backs,
and 6190 m for outside backs. In their study of
players in the same competition, Eaton and George
(2006) found the average distances sprinted by
forwards ranged from 6 m to 9 m, while for backs
the range was 13 m to 15 m. Roberts et al. (2008)
found that forwards spent 12% of their playing time
engaged in high-intensity activities and sprinted on
16 occasions, while backs spent 4% of their time in
high-intensity activities but sprinted an average of 23
times during a match.
Although the total accumulated time that players
engage in high-intensity exercise during a match can
be relatively brief and the distances sprinted by

Correspondence: D. Austin, Sydney Roosters Rugby League Football Club, Sydney, Australia. E-mail: damiena@sydneyroosters.com.au
ISSN 0264-0414 print/ISSN 1466-447X online Ó 2011 Taylor & Francis
DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2011.582508
 2 D. Austin et al.
players short, coaches and players recognize that
sprints and multiple sprints are central to the modern
game and for players in all positions to succeed in
elite competition they must be able to maintain
repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise, often over
extended periods. In addition, the laws of the game
are continually under review and many have been
modified in recent years to increase the speed of the
game and make it more attractive to spectators
(Brooks & Kemp, 2008). Moreover, Roberts et al.
(2008), Spencer et al. (2004), and Duthie et al.
(2006) have suggested that particularly intense
passages of play involving repeated sprints occur at
critical times during competition, and that the ability
or inability of players to perform repeated sprints
Downloaded by [ACU Australian Catholic University] at 19:25 26 June 2011
may be critical to the outcome of a game.
While a number of studies have described the
distance and frequency of sprints completed by
rugby union players during match-play (Docherty,
Wenger, & Neary, 1998; Duthie et al., 2003, 2005;
Eaton & George, 2006; Nicholas, 1997), little is
known about repeated high-intensity exercise (invol-
ving sprinting and contact efforts) in the modern
game. A better understanding of these demands has
the potential to inform training practices. The aim of
the present study, therefore, was to describe the
frequency, duration, and nature of repeated high-
intensity exercise relative to positional groups in
professional rugby union.
Method
Participants
The movements of 20 players from the Queensland
Rugby Union team were recorded during seven
Super 14 games over the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
All games were played at Suncorp Stadium,
Brisbane, Australia. Following consultation with
the coaches, players in each of the following
positional groups were assessed: front row forwards,
back row forwards, inside backs, and outside backs.
Scrum-halves were not included due to the mixed
role of this position (Eaton & George, 2006;
Roberts et al., 2008), while hookers were included
as back row forwards due to their roving style of
play (Duthie et al., 2005). The movements of five
players from each playing group were analysed. The
study received approval from an Ethics Committee
of The University of Queensland and all partici-
pants provided informed consent before the study
began.
Time–motion analysis
Video recordings were made using three cameras
(HITACHI DZ-GX5060SW, Hitachi Ltd., Japan)
positioned on stationary tripods. Cameras were
positioned on the half-way line approximately 30 m
above the field of play. This allowed full view of the
entire playing field and each camera operator
followed one player for the entirety of each match
investigated. Six assistants were used during the
study for video recording.
Each player was filmed with a minimal radius of
10 m so as to allow a view of his surroundings and
field position. Each was filmed for the entirety of the
match, including breaks in play and time on the
bench. Distances were estimated using field mark-
ings as guides. The filming of seven matches allowed
for the averaging of data for each grouped playing
position and meant that differences in environment,
oppositional standard, and variations in refereeing
were accounted for.
Video footage was analysed using hand-notation,
with each movement activity, frequency, distance
covered, and duration recorded. Movement was
coded as one of eight speeds of locomotion
(standing, forward walking, backward walking, for-
ward jogging, backward jogging, forward striding,
forward sprinting, and lateral movement), three
non-running intense activities (tackling, scrums/
rucks/mauls, and static holds), or one discrete
activity (kicking). To be consistent with Docherty
et al. (1988), scrums/rucks/mauls were grouped
together. These movement codes have previously
been used by Duthie et al. (2005) and King et al.
(King, Jenkins, & Gabbett, 2009). These codes are
further defined in Table I.
High-intensity exercise included forward sprint-
ing, scrums/rucks/mauls, and tackling. Given the
recognized high physiological costs of tackling and
scrums/rucks/mauls, these activities were included
with sprints in the assessment of high-intensity
exercise. A tackle was deemed to have occurred
when the ball carrier was held by one or more
opponents and brought to the ground (International
Rugby Board, 2010). Low-intensity exercise in-
cluded standing, forward and backward walking,
lateral movement, and forward and backward jog-
ging. Kicking was not included in the intensity
analysis. To calculate exercise-to-rest ratios, low-
intensity activities were considered as rest periods,
while high-intensity activities were classified as
exercise. Low-intensity activities, however, may not
be performed as just recovery activities, as players
may need these locomotor forms to move into
strategic positions.
A repeated high-intensity exercise bout was
defined as three or more sprints, scrums/rucks/
mauls, and/or tackle efforts with less than 21 s
recovery between high-intensity efforts (modified to
include tackles and scrums/rucks/mauls from Spen-
cer et al., 2004).
 Repeated high-intensity exercise 3

Table I. Match activities recorded during match-play

Match-play activity Description

Standing Standing or lying on the ground without being involved in pushing or any other game activities
Forward walking Walking forwards slowly with purpose; one foot in contact with the ground at all times
Backward walking Walking backwards slowly with purpose; one foot in contact with the ground at all times
Forward jogging Jogging forwards slowly to change field position; involves a flight phase, with minimal arm swing, but with no
particular haste
Backward jogging Jogging backwards slowly to change field position; involves a flight phase, with minimal arm swing, but with no
particular haste
Forward striding Running with manifest purpose and effort, accelerating with long strides, yet not at maximal effort (3/4 pace),
e.g. running into a back line to receive the ball
Forward sprinting Running with maximal effort; discernible from striding by maximal arm and stride movements
Lateral movement Shuffling sideways (transverse) to change field position; usually a defensive or repositioning movement
Tackling A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is held by one or more opponents and is brought to ground
Kicking Any kick in play including: kick-off, kick to touch, chip-kick, punt, and field goal
Static holds The involvement of lifting a player in a lineout movement
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Scrums/rucks/mauls A player is attached to an active scrum, ruck or maul. Once the ball exits the scrum, ruck or maul, or the referee
calls the end of the play, the player is no longer considered to be engaged in a scrum/ruck/maul

Reliability
Reliability of the time–motion analysis was assessed
by having a second researcher repeat analyses on
approximately 40 min of footage from one player.
Inter-tester reliability was assessed by comparing
coding from the two observers for the first analysis;
comparing the repeated analyses for the two ob-
servers assessed intra-tester reliability. Each experi-
menter was denied knowledge of results by the others
and approximately 4 weeks separated the first and
second analyses (McLean, 1992). The reliability of
the coding technique was assessed using the typical
error of measurement and also expressed as a
coefficient of variation (Mueller & Martorell,
1988). Previous studies have applied this method of
reliability to time–motion analysis in rugby union
(Duthie et al., 2005) and field hockey (Spencer et al.,
2005).
Typical error of measurement and coefficient of
variation calculations were based on frequency, total
time, and relative time (%) of the 11 key movements
(standing, forward walking, backward walking, for-
ward jogging, backward jogging, striding, sprinting,
lateral movement, tackling, static holds, and scrums/
rucks/mauls). Typical error of measurement and
coefficient of variation calculations were also based
on relative distance (%) of eight key movements
(standing, forward walking, backward walking, for-
ward jogging, backward jogging, striding, sprinting,
and lateral movement). Reliability was based on the
totals of activities observed rather than specific
actions that made up the totals. Absolute typical
error of measurement values for frequency, total
time, relative time (%), and relative distance (%)
were 0.04, 0.39, 0.27, and 0.62 respectively for inter-
coder reliability and 0.2, 1.17, 0.1, and 0.21
respectively for intra-coder reliability. Coefficients
of variation for frequency, total time, relative time
(%), and relative distance (%) were 0.4%, 4.5%,
5.6%, and 4.1% respectively for inter-coder relia-
bility, and 1.2%, 2.9%, 4.3%, and 3.7% respectively
for intra-coder reliability.
Statistical analysis
Data for duration, percentage time, total time,
number of activities, and mean duration and
frequencies for activities and high-intensity efforts
are presented as the mean and standard deviation (s).
Analyses of variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc (Tukey)
tests were used to identify differences in repeated
high-intensity exercise bouts between playing posi-
tions. Differences between groups were also analysed
using Cohen’s effect size (ES) statistic (Cohen,
1988). Effect sizes of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 were
considered small, moderate, and large, respectively
(Batterham & Hopkins, 2005). All statistics were run
on SPSS (v.17.0, IBM, Chicago, IL) with an alpha of
0.05 set a priori.
Results
Number of repeated high-intensity exercise bouts
Outside backs were involved in significantly fewer
(P ¼ 0.035) total repeated high-intensity exercise
bouts in each game (7 + 3) compared with the front
row forwards (15 + 3), the back row forwards
(17 + 4), and the inside backs (16 + 2) (Table II).
There were no significant differences between the
front row forwards (8 + 2 and 7 + 2), the back row
forwards (8 + 2 and 9 + 3) (P ¼ 0.503), and the
 4 D. Austin et al.

7 + 3{{*

{Significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared with front row forwards. {Significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared with back row forwards. *Significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared with inside
28 + 4{{
inside backs (8 + 1 and 8 + 2) (P ¼ 0.784) in total

Match
number of repeated high-intensity exercise bouts
between the first and second halves of the games,
respectively. The range of repeated high-intensity
Outside backs

512 + 109 {
3 + 2{{*
2nd Half
exercise bouts that occurred in the seven matches for

23 + 23
53

44
the four positional groups in the present study were
as follows: 11–18 for front row forwards, 11–21 for
4 + 3{{* back row forwards, 13–18 for inside backs, and 2–11
for outside backs. The total numbers of repeated
1st Half

36 + 5

high-intensity exercise bouts recorded during the

seven games were: 76 for front row forwards, 83 for
back row forwards, 78 for inside backs, and 37 for
26 + 4{{

outside backs.
16 + 2#
Match
Table II. Differences in repeated high-intensity exercise (RHIE) by playing position (mean + s)

Average duration of repeated high-intensity exercise bouts

Downloaded by [ACU Australian Catholic University] at 19:25 26 June 2011

Inside backs

317 + 37
2nd Half

8 + 2#

The average duration of repeated high-intensity

24 + 3

26

exercise bouts for the front row forwards and back

row forwards was 45 + 9 s and 52 + 7 s respectively,
each of which was significantly greater than the
1st Half

8 + 1#

average durations for the inside backs (26 + 4 s;

27 + 4

P ¼ 0.015) and outside backs (28 + 4 s; P ¼ 0.004)

64

(Table II).
52 + 7*#
17 + 4#
Match

Maximum durations of repeated high-intensity

Back row forwards

exercise bouts
314 + 124

The overall maximum duration of repeated high-

2nd Half

49 + 12
9 + 3#

165

25

intensity exercise bouts for the front row forwards,

the back row forwards, the inside backs, and the
outside backs was 118 s, 165 s, 64 s, and 53 s
1st Half

8 + 2#

respectively (Table II). The longest single repeated

58 + 7

high-intensity exercise bout recorded was for a back

row forward at 165 s. The player engaged in two
sprints, one tackle, six scrums/rucks/mauls, and
45 + 9*#
15 + 3#
Match

covered a total distance of 84 m. There were 26

backs. #Significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared with outside backs.

changes in activity and sprint distances ranged from

Front row forwards

20 to 35 m. The most intense single repeated high-

274 + 27#

intensity exercise bout achieved by a front row

2nd Half

47 + 15
7 + 2#

118

64

forward lasted 118 s and involved 24 different

activities; the player covered 136 m during this bout
(sprinting twice between 10 and 25 m), completed
1st Half

three tackles, and was involved in five scrums/rucks/

8 + 2#
41 + 8

mauls. The most intense repeated high-intensity

exercise bout by an inside back lasted 64 s; the player
covered a total distance of 109 m and engaged in 15
Overall maximum duration of RHIE

locomotive activities. He completed four sprints

Overall minimum recovery duration
Average recovery duration between

ranging from 5 to 34 m, executed one tackle, and

Average duration of RHIE (s)

was involved in one scrum/ruck/maul. The most

between RHIE bouts (s)

intense repeated high-intensity exercise bout for an

outside back lasted 53 s. The player covered a total
Frequency of RHIE

distance of 55 m and engaged in 10 activities; he

RHIE bouts (s)

completed two sprints (of 7 to 25 m), executed two

tackles, and was involved in two scrums/rucks/mauls.
bout (s)

The front row forwards recorded a significantly

Position

(P ¼ 0.032) greater number of activities (24 efforts)

in the maximum single repeated high-intensity
 Repeated high-intensity exercise 5

exercise bout compared with the back row forwards
(13 separate activities), the inside backs (15 separate
activities), and the outside backs (10 separate
activities). The back row forwards and outside backs
tended to be involved in a greater number of high-
intensity efforts in single repeated high-intensity
exercise bouts (62% and 60% respectively) com-
pared with the front row forwards and inside backs
(42% and 40% respectively), although this was not
statistically significant (P ¼ 0.32 and 0.45; ES ¼ 0.2
and 1.5 respectively).
Percentages of sprinting, tackling, and scrum/ruck/maul
efforts in repeated high-intensity exercise bouts
Downloaded by [ACU Australian Catholic University] at 19:25 26 June 2011
completed 31% of their sprints over 6–10 m. The
outside backs had significantly fewer sprints between
0 and 5 m compared with the other positional groups
(front row forwards, P ¼ 0.009; back row forwards,
P ¼ 0.002; inside backs, P ¼ 0.015), while the inside
backs had a significantly greater number of sprints
between 6 and 10 m compared with the front row
forwards (P ¼ 0.006). The inside backs also com-
pleted a significantly greater number of sprints
between 11 and 20 m compared with the back row
forwards and outside backs (P ¼ 0.012 and P ¼ 0.003
respectively).
Recovery between repeated high-intensity exercise bouts

The inside and outside backs tended to spend a
higher percentage of their repeated high-intensity
exercise bouts sprinting (45% and 45% respectively)
compared with tackling (36% and 35% respectively),
although this was not statistically significant (P ¼ 0.07
and 0.34; ES ¼ 1.33 and 0.75 respectively) (Figure 1).
As expected, involvement in scrums/rucks/mauls was
greater for the front and back row forwards (53% and
59% respectively) than for the inside and outside
backs (19% and 18% respectively) (P ¼ 0.003).
Distances sprinted
Most sprints were between 11 and 20 m for the front
row forwards (36%), back row forwards (30%), and
inside backs (37%) (Figure 2). The outside backs
The front row forwards tended to have the shortest
recovery (274 + 27 s) between repeated high-inten-
sity exercise bouts compared with the back row
forwards (314 + 124 s; ES ¼ 0.45) and the inside
backs (317 + 37 s; ES ¼ 1.33), although these values
were not significantly different (P ¼ 0.50, 0.07, and
0.30 respectively). The front row forwards had less
(P 50.035) recovery between repeated high-intensity
exercise bouts than the outside backs (512 + 109 s).
In addition, the back row forwards and inside backs
had very similar minimum repeated high-intensity
exercise recovery durations (25 s and 26 s respec-
tively), while minimum repeated high-intensity ex-
ercise recovery times for the front row forwards and
outside backs tended to be longer (64 s and 44 s
respectively) (Table II).

Figure 1. The percentage of sprinting, tackling and scrum/rucks/mauls in repeated high-intensity exercise during seven games during the
whole match for players in the four positional groups (FR: front row forwards, BR: back row forwards, IB: inside backs, OB: outside backs).
Values are mean + SD. {significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared to front row forwards. {significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared
to back row forwards. *significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared to inside backs. #significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared to outside
backs.
 6 D. Austin et al.
Downloaded by [ACU Australian Catholic University] at 19:25 26 June 2011

Figure 2. The percentage (%), mean (+SD) of distance covered in sprinting movement, during seven games, for players in the four
positional groups (FR: front row forwards, BR: back row forwards, IB: inside backs, OB: outside backs). Values are mean + SD. {significant
difference (P 5 0.05) compared to front row forwards. {significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared to back row forwards. *significant
difference (P 5 0.05) compared to inside backs. #significant difference (P 5 0.05) compared to outside backs.

Also in agreement with findings of Duthie et al.

Discussion
The aim of the present study was to describe the
frequency, duration, and nature of repeated high-
intensity exercise bouts in professional rugby union.
We found that the number of repeated high-intensity
exercise bouts in each match ranged from 2 to 21
depending on positional group and that the average
durations of these bouts ranged from 28 s to 52 s.
The maximum durations and nature of activities that
comprised these bouts differed significantly between
positional groups, as did the recovery periods
between them. This was due to the forwards’ greater
involvement in high-intensity exercise of greater
durations, such as scrums/rucks/mauls.
Duthie et al. (2006) analysed 16 forwards and 12
backs over ten games during the 2003 Super 12
competition and found that high-intensity activities
accounted for 14% of game time for forwards and
6% for backs. This is consistent with findings from
the present study, which show that 14% and 8% of
game time for forwards and backs was spent in high-
intensity activities, such as sprinting, tackling, and
involvement in scrums/rucks/mauls. Based on the
total repeated high-intensity exercise bouts recorded
over the seven games in the present study, the front
row forwards, back row forwards, and inside backs
completed one repeated high-intensity exercise bout
every 6 min, while the outside backs averaged one
repeated high-intensity exercise bout every 10 min.
(2006), the average durations of repeated high-
intensity exercise bouts were significantly longer for
the front row and back row forwards in the present
study than for the inside and outside backs. The
higher involvement of the forwards in scrums/rucks/
mauls is a likely explanation for this finding. The
present results are also consistent with those reported
by Eaton and George (2006), who found that loose
forwards in the English Premier League engaged in
the greatest number of high-intensity activities for the
longest durations, while outside backs were involved
in the least number of high-intensity activities and for
the shortest periods of time.
Sprinting contributed to 10%, 10%, 15%, and
13% of the total distances covered by the front row
and back row forwards, and the inside and outside
backs respectively. Consistent with the findings of
Duthie et al. (2005) and Sayers (1998), the majority
of sprints, when the four positions were considered
together, were completed over distances between
11 and 20 m in the present study. This supports the
need for acceleration training for all rugby
union players, irrespective of playing position. The
majority of sprints for outside backs were between 6
and 10 m with 7% of all sprints completed by this
group 440 m. This is similar to the findings of
Duthie et al. (2005), who reported that backs tended
to complete either short (520 m) or long (450 m)
sprints. The present findings together with those of

Duthie et al. (2005) impress the need for players in
all positions to develop and maintain sprint ability
across a wide range of distances but particularly
those under 20 m.
Spencer et al. (2004) investigated the repeated-
sprint demands of elite field hockey players and
found the number of sprints completed within a
repeated sprint bout to range between 3 and 7. The
range of repeated high-intensity exercise bouts in the
present study was 2–21 per game: forwards averaged
16 repeated high-intensity exercise bouts per game
while backs averaged 11. Inclusion of tackling and
scrums/rucks/mauls in the present assessment of
activities was likely responsible for the relatively high
number of repeated high-intensity exercise bouts
Downloaded by [ACU Australian Catholic University] at 19:25 26 June 2011
recorded (compared with the number of bouts
reported by Spencer et al., 2004), particularly for
the forwards. High-intensity exercise in rugby union
therefore needs to include activities other than just
running activities. The energy demands of scrums/
rucks/mauls and tackling, although different from
those of sprinting and high-intensity running, have a
high physiological cost.
A practical application of the present findings is in
the design of position-specific exercise drills and tests
that provide coaches with a sense of the preparedness
of their players to meet the most demanding passages
of play likely to be encountered during competition.
Moreover, it is the maximum periods of activity
coupled with the minimum periods of recovery
(rather than average values) that should be used to
develop position-specific tests. Using the present
data, a test for back row forwards would require
players to undertake two sprints (over distances of
between 11 and 20 m) for a duration of 165 s.
Rugby-specific exercises such as tackling and contact
drills mimicking the effort involved in rucks/mauls
should also be included. Players in this positional
group would have a 25-s recovery before repeating
the drill and they could complete the drill either
twice or three times in succession, depending on the
aims of training. Using the present findings, a test for
front row forwards would involve sustained repeated
high-intensity exercise for 120 s; players would cover
a total distance of 140 m and complete two sprints of
between 11 and 20 m. They would also complete at
least one tackle and be involved in four contacts with
resistance machines or heavy bags that replicate the
efforts involved in scrums/rucks/mauls. The drill
would be repeated following 60 s of recovery.
Timing the sprints and ensuring players complete
each circuit in a minimum period of time can be
collectively used to assess the effort and performance
of players. The decrement in sprint time perfor-
mance will reflect a player’s ability to undertake the
most demanding passages of repeated efforts they are
likely to encounter in a game.
Repeated high-intensity exercise 7
A limitation of the present study was that data were
collected from only 20 players during seven games,
over two seasons. Moreover, some rugby laws
changed during this period and this may have
influenced to some degree the activity patterns and
periods of repeated high-intensity exercise reported.
Despite these limitations, the present study extends
the work of others who have examined and reported
sprint activities in rugby union and describes activ-
ities that collectively carry a high physiological cost:
bouts of repeated high-intensity activities completed
by players for up to and sometimes longer than 120 s
in duration and which are separated by as little as 25 s
recovery. The findings presented have the potential to
assist in the preparation of elite rugby union players
for competition.
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