title: Managing player load in professional rugby union: a review of current knowledge and practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The loads to which professional rugby players are subjected has been identified as a concern by coaches, players and administrators. In November 2014, World Rugby commissioned an expert group to identify the physical demands and non-physical load issues associated with participation in professional rugby.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the current state of knowledge about the loads encountered by professional rugby players and the implications for their physical and mental health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group defined 'load' as it relates to professional rugby players as the total stressors and demands applied to the players. In the 2013-2014 seasons, 40% of professional players appeared in 20 matches or more, and 5% of players appeared in 30 matches or more. Matches account for ∼5-11% of exposure to rugby-related activities (matches, team and individual training sessions) during professional competitions. The match injury rate is about 27 times higher than that in training. The working group surmised that players entering a new level of play, players with unresolved previous injuries, players who are relatively older and players who are subjected to rapid increases in load are probably at increased risk of injury. A mix of 'objective' and 'subjective' measures in conjunction with effective communication among team staff and between staff and players was held to be the best approach to monitoring and managing player loads. While comprehensive monitoring holds promise for individually addressing player loads, it brings with it ethical and legal responsibilities that rugby organisations need to address to ensure that players' personal information is adequately protected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administrators, broadcasters, team owners, team staff and the players themselves have important roles in balancing the desire to have the 'best players' on the field with the ongoing health of players. In contrast, the coaching, fitness and medical staff exert significant control over the activities, duration and intensity of training sessions. If load is a major risk factor for injury, then managing training loads should be an important element in enabling players to perform in a fit state as often as possible.
authors: New Zealand Rugby, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Kenneth L
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-8489
authors: KL
authors: Quarrie
authors: World Rugby, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Raftery
authors: International Rugby Players Association, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Josh
authors: J
authors: Blackie
authors: School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
authors: Christian J
authors: CJ
authors: Cook
authors: Colin Fuller Consultancy Ltd, Sutton Bonington, UK.
authors: Colin W
authors: CW
authors: Fuller
authors: School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Tim J
authors: TJ
authors: Gabbett
authors: Athletic Data Innovations, Miranda, Australia.
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: Gray
authors: Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Gill
authors: Centre for Coaching and Wellness Research Setanta College, Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland.
authors: Liam
authors: L
authors: Hennessy
authors: Rugby Football Union, London, UK.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Kemp
authors: Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Newlands, South Africa.
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Lambert
authors: International Rugby Players Association, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Nichol
authors: Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK.
authors: Stephen D
authors: SD
authors: Mellalieu
authors: Research Department, French Rugby Union Federation, Marcoussis, France.
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Piscione
authors: Athlete Monitoring Department, Prozone Sports, London, UK.
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Stadelmann
authors: World Rugby, Dublin, Ireland.|Department of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors: Ross
authors: R
authors: Tucker
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016526:Workload
keywords: Elite performance; Injury; Load; Overtraining and burnout; Rugby