Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Understanding the demands of rugby match-play and the training to prepare players for this is a key aspect for all practitioners involved in the game. Our research has evaluated the demands of match-play including physical and technical aspects across multiple playing level from youth populations to international rugby league. We have undertaken large scale performance analysis projects including evaluating the tackle demands across 5 countries for World Rugby and lead a league wide project for European Super League with Catapult. These findings have influenced policy and practice for national organisations and practitioners working day to day within clubs.
Our research has significantly changed policy and club practices for preparing players for the demands of match-play and player development. For example, the identified lower intensity of academy match-play resulted in the RFL adding a three game Under 18 academy Origin (i.e., Yorkshire vs Lancashire) into their fixture calendar benefitting over 40 players to experience higher-intensity competition to support their player development. A league wide dissemination of match-play physical data was shared by the RFL across all twelve RFL Super League clubs and all 14 RFU regional academies, which have influenced coaches planning and practice. Specifically, at Leeds Rhinos RLFC, this research has influenced their Player Development Plan and the intensity of coaches’ training has significantly increased from 2017 to 2019. Coaches directly evidenced Whitehead’s research on the worse-case demands of match-play as a major reason for changing their training practices.
We have used research from Leeds Beckett University to inform our training practices and matches. Research studies by Dr Dan Weaving have quantified the highest running and collision demands of Super League and NRL players, therefore we have used this data to evaluate our training and match demands.