The demands of youth rugby match-play

Whitehead, Sarah, Weaving, Dan, Johnston, Rich and Read, Dale ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6367-0261 (2022) The demands of youth rugby match-play. In: Youth Rugby. Routledge Research in Paediatric Sport and Exercise Science . Routledge, New York, pp. 56-72. ISBN 9780367612467 (hardback); 9781003104841 (ebook)

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Abstract

This chapter summarises and presents the research quantifying the technical-tactical and physical demands of male youth rugby league and rugby union match-play, and compares between playing positions, standards, and age-grades. In both rugby codes positional differences are apparent, with some differences attributed to the playing standard, indicating the need for position-specific prescription of training practices. Differences in technical-tactical demands between standards of competition are apparent in rugby league match-play, providing potential focus areas for youth rugby league coaches, but further research is required to analyse these differences in rugby union. The physical demands of match-play in both codes vary dependent upon the playing standard and age-grade of competition, influenced primarily by the match length. Further research considering contextual factors and the interaction between the physical and technical-tactical demands that underpin performance across youth rugby are still required.