Can a cross training program improve rugby skills in adolescent male rugby p la y e r s ? Michel Christian Marnewick A thesis submitted to AUT University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Health Science Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences December 2008 School of Sport and Recreation Primary Supervisor: Dr. Justin Keogh Secondary Supervisor: Dr. Tony Oldham "Rugby is a good occasion for keeping thirty bullies far from the centre of the city." - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) - - 1 - Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ - 5 - List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... - 5 - ATTESTATION OF AUTHORSHIP ...................................................................... - 6 - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................... - 7 - BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................... - 9 - ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... - 11 - INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... - 13 - AIMS .......................................................................................................................... - 15 - HYPOTHESES ......................................................................................................... - 16 - APPLICATIONS ...................................................................................................... - 17 - LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... - 18 - Determinants of rugby union success ......................................................................................... - 20 - Intrinsic Factors ....................................................................................................................... - 20 - Body Mass .......................................................................................................................... - 21 - Height ................................................................................................................................. - 22 - Percentage Body Fat ............................................................................................................ - 23 - Muscle Strength and Power ................................................................................................. - 24 - Speed .................................................................................................................................. - 24 - Muscle Fibre Type ............................................................................................................... - 25 - Self-Efficacy ....................................................................................................................... - 25 - Extrinsic Factors ...................................................................................................................... - 28 - Fitness Training ................................................................................................................... - 28 - Training loads and methods ................................................................................................. - 29 - Diet ..................................................................................................................................... - 29 - Resistance Training ............................................................................................................. - 30 - Skill-based Conditioning ..................................................................................................... - 30 - Age specific analysis and coaching ...................................................................................... - 31 - Profiling .............................................................................................................................. - 32 - Limitation in data collection and research ............................................................................ - 32 - Regular training practices in rugby union ................................................................................. - 33 - Elite level................................................................................................................................. - 34 - Training intensity ................................................................................................................ - 34 - Training frequency .............................................................................................................. - 34 - Training specificity .............................................................................................................. - 34 - Training mode ..................................................................................................................... - 35 - - 2 - Amateur level .......................................................................................................................... - 35 - Training intensity ................................................................................................................ - 35 - Training frequency .............................................................................................................. - 35 - Training specificity .............................................................................................................. - 36 - Training mode ..................................................................................................................... - 36 - Cross-training ............................................................................................................................. - 36 - Soccer ...................................................................................................................................... - 41 - Basketball ................................................................................................................................ - 44 - Wrestling ................................................................................................................................. - 47 - Rationale for selecting soccer, basketball and wrestling ............................................................ - 50 - Soccer ................................................................................................................................. - 50 - Basketball ........................................................................................................................... - 53 - Wrestling............................................................................................................................. - 53 - Other sports which may improve rugby performance ............................................................... - 54 - Australian Rules Football ......................................................................................................... - 55 - Rugby League .......................................................................................................................... - 55 - Volleyball ................................................................................................................................ - 56 - Rationale for analysis of other sports in rugby cross-training ................................................... - 57 - Australian Rules Football ......................................................................................................... - 57 - Rugby League .......................................................................................................................... - 58 - Volleyball ................................................................................................................................ - 59 - Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. - 59 - METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... - 61 - Study Design ............................................................................................................................... - 61 - Participants ................................................................................................................................. - 61 - Measures ..................................................................................................................................... - 62 - Anthropometry .................................................................................................................... - 63 - Physiological tests ............................................................................................................... - 63 - Rugby-specific skill tests ..................................................................................................... - 66 - Self-Efficacy questionnaire .................................................................................................. - 69 - Training Programs ..................................................................................................................... - 70 - Data