title: Movement demands of elite rugby league players during Australian National Rugby League and European Super League matches.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the movement demands of players competing in matches from the elite Australian and European rugby league competitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Global positioning system devices were used to measure 192 performances of forwards, adjustables, and outside backs during National Rugby League (NRL; n = 88) and European Super League (SL; n = 104) matches. Total and relative distances covered overall and at low (0-3.5 m/s), moderate (3.6-5 m/s), and high (>5 m/s) speeds were measured alongside changes in movement variables across the early, middle, and late phases of the season.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative distance covered in SL matches (95.8 ± 18.6 m/min) was significantly greater (P < .05) than in NRL matches (90.2 ± 8.3 m/min). Relative low-speed activity (70.3 ± 4.9 m/min vs 75.5 ± 18.9 m/min) and moderate-speed running (12.5 ± 3.3 m m/min vs 14.2 ± 3.8 m/min) were highest (P < .05) in the SL matches, and relative high-speed distance was greater (P < .05) during NRL matches (7.8 ± 2.1 m/min vs 6.1 ± 1.7 m/min).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NRL players have better maintenance of high-speed running between the first and second halves of matches and perform less low- and moderate-speed activity, indicating that the NRL provides a higher standard of rugby league competition than the SL.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Twist
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Highton
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gabbett
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005060:Europe; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013996:Time and Motion Studies