title: Acceleratory match-play demands of a Super Rugby team over a competitive season.
abstract: The match-play demands of rugby union have increased over time, and these demands should be quantified so as to provide a basis for optimal player loading during training. The primary aim of this article was to quantify accelerations, decelerations, impacts and aggregated body demands during the first half of match-play in a Super Rugby team. The secondary aim was to determine whether these characteristics are position-specific. Thirty-three players were monitored for 14 matches using global positioning system units with inbuilt microtechnology. Players were grouped according to positional roles and data were analysed for those who completed the entire duration of the first half of a given match. Forwards sustained more (d = 0.44) high-intensity impacts and greater (d = 0.26) aggregated body demands, while backs had more moderate (d = 0.55) and heavy accelerations (d = 0.76), and moderate (d = 0.23) and heavy decelerations (d = 0.54). These differences suggest that conditioning and recovery strategies should reflect the physical demands placed on players in different playing positions. Forwards should be conditioned with a focus on impacts and require longer recovery for the same duration of playing time, whereas conditioning for backs should emphasise rapid accelerations and decelerations.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sport Science , Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch , South Africa.
authors.forename: Shaun M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sport Science , Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch , South Africa.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.affiliation: b Western Province Rugby , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: du Toit
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sport Science , Stellenbosch University , Stellenbosch , South Africa.
authors.forename: Wilbur J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kraak
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012621:Seasons; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GPS; accelerations; aggregated body demand; decelerations; rugby union