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Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(07): 552-558
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-101795
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Energetic and Metabolic Power Demands of National Rugby League Match-Play

C. Cummins
1   Exercise and Sports Science, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia
,
A. Gray
2   School of Science and Technology, The University of New England, Armidale, Australia
,
K. Shorter
2   School of Science and Technology, The University of New England, Armidale, Australia
,
M. Halaki
1   Exercise and Sports Science, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia
,
R. Orr
1   Exercise and Sports Science, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 13 January 2016

Publication Date:
26 April 2016 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to apply a time-motion model to estimate and describe the energy expenditure and metabolic power demands of playing positions in elite rugby league match-play, utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. 18 elite rugby league players participated in this study. Players’ positional groups included: outside backs (n=59 files, n=4 players), adjustables (n=74 files, n=4 players), wide-running (n=104 files, n=7 players) and hit-up forwards (n=36 files, n=3 players). Outside backs expended the greatest total energy (40.1±5.0 kJ·kg−1) per match, equivalent to 8.1%, 26.6% and 61.9% greater energy than adjustables, wide-running and hit-up forwards, respectively. Adjustables attained an anaerobic index 7.3% higher than wide-running forwards, 19.7% higher than hit-up forwards (p=0.001) and 43.2% higher than outside backs (p<0.001). Wide-running forwards achieved an anaerobic index (0.34±0.04) 11% and 32.8% higher than hit-up forwards (p=0.001) and outside backs (p<0.001), respectively. Mean power of adjustables (10.0±0.9 W·kg−1) was significantly higher than all other groups (outside backs: 28.8%, 7.8±1.0; hit-up: 12.4%, 8.9±0.6; and wide-running: 8.7%, 9.2±0.7 forwards) (p<0.001). Energetics indices indicated differing metabolic demands for all positional groups, suggesting position-specific conditioning drills are required to replicate the energetic demands of match-play.

Key words

energy cost - metabolic demands - match analysis - global positioning system (GPS) - rugby league
 

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