The Physical Characteristics of Elite Female Rugby Union Players

Logan Posthumus, Campbell Macgregor, Paul Winwood, Jamie Tout, Lillian Morton, Matthew Driller and Nicholas Gill
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Logan Posthumus: Faculty of Health, Education and Environment, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga 3112, New Zealand
Campbell Macgregor: Faculty of Health, Education and Environment, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga 3112, New Zealand
Paul Winwood: Faculty of Health, Education and Environment, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tauranga 3112, New Zealand
Jamie Tout: New Zealand Rugby, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Lillian Morton: New Zealand Rugby, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Matthew Driller: School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
Nicholas Gill: Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, The University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-10

Abstract: This study explored the anthropometric and body composition characteristics of elite female rugby union players, comparing between and within different playing positions. Thirty elite female rugby union players (25.6 ± 4.3 y, 171.3 ± 7.7 cm, 83.5 ± 13.9 kg) from New Zealand participated in this study. Physical characteristics were assessed using anthropometric (height, body mass, skinfolds) and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) measures. Forwards were significantly taller ( p < 0.01; d = 1.34), heavier ( p < 0.01; d = 2.19), and possessed greater skinfolds ( p < 0.01; d = 1.02) than backs. Forwards also possessed significantly greater total ( p < 0.01; d = 1.83–2.25) and regional ( p < 0.01; d = 1.50–2.50) body composition measures compared to backs. Healthy bone mineral density values were observed in both forwards and backs, with significantly greater values observed at the arm ( p < 0.01; d = 0.92) and femoral neck ( p = 0.04; d = 0.77) sites for forwards. Tight-five players were significantly heavier ( p = 0.02; d = 1.41) and possessed significantly greater skinfolds ( p < 0.01; d = 0.97) than loose-forwards. Tight-five also possessed significantly greater total body composition measures ( p < 0.05; d = 0.97–1.77) and significantly greater trunk lean mass ( p = 0.04; d = 1.14), trunk fat mass ( p < 0.01; d = 1.84), and arm fat mass ( p = 0.02; d = 1.35) compared to loose-forwards. Specific programming and monitoring for forwards and backs, particularly within forward positional groups, appear important due to such physical characteristic differences.

Keywords: bone mineral density; lean mass; fat mass; fat percentage; skinfolds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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