title: How they won Rugby World Cup through height, mass and collective experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the evolution of anthropometric characteristics in World Cup rugby players and identify elements associated with performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age, weight and height were collected for 2692 World Cup rugby players as well as rankings in each World Cup, and collective experience of winners, finalists, semifinalists and quarter finalists in comparison to the rest of the competitors. Anthropometric parameters were compared according to age and position (back and forwards).
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1987 to 2007, forwards and backs have become heavier by 6.63 and 6.68 kg and taller by 0.61 and 1.09 cm, respectively. The collective experience of the forwards' pack is a value increasing with the final ranking attained, as well as the weight of forwards and the height of backs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For all Rugby World Cups, the highest performing teams have the tallest backs and heaviest forwards with the highest percentage of collective experience.
authors.affiliation: IRMES, Paris, France. adrien.sedeaud@insep.fr
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sedeaud
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marc
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schipman
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tafflet
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hager
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Toussaint
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000639:trends; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult