BT Spamer, E.J., and De la Port, Y.: ANTHROPOMETRIC, PHYSICAL AND MOTOR... Kinesiology 38(2006) 2:176-184 a ANTHROPOMETRIC, PHYSICAL, MOTOR, AND GAME-SPECIFIC PROFILES OF ELITE U 16 AND U 18 YEAR-OLD SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLBOY RUGBY PLAYERS Emanuel J. Spamer and Yvette De la Port North-West University, Potchestroom Campus, South Africa Original scientific paper UDC 796.333:796.012-053.7(680) Abstract: At present, little is known aboutelite schoolboy rugby players in South Africa and internationally. To obtain theprofile of elite schoolboy rugby players, young players must be tested and monitored to compile normsfor them. The aim of this study wasto identify the characteristics of the elite U 16 and U 18 school- boy rugby players in South Africa with reference to anthropometric variables, physical and motorabilities, and game-specific skills. The research group consisted of U 16 year-old (n = 71) and U 18 year-old (n = 75) elite South African school boy rugbyplayers, also known as the Green Squad of the South African Rugby Union (SARU). The two elite groups were tested during 2003 and 2004 on six anthropometric variables, seven physical and motorability tests and five game-specific skill tests. Descriptive statistics and practical significant differences (d-values) between the 2003 and 2004 seasonfor the two age groups were computed. Regarding gameskills there was a decrease in passing skills in both age groups from 2003 to 2004. Norm scales were compiled for further use by sport scientists and coachesin talent identification. Key words: rugby union, anthropometry, motor abilities, U 16 players, U 18 players Introduction players (Gilbert, 2004, p. 21). In 1994, after the Rugby unionis a popular sport played in more empowerment of the African National Congress than a 100 countries worldwide. In South Africa (ANC), priority was given to sport development. rugby is a major sport compared to other playing A policy was compiled in 1995, highlighting the countries such as Australia, England, France,Ire- need and importance of a scientific identification land and Scotland whereit is only third, fourth or and development programmeof talented sports- fifth most popular sport (SARFU, 2003c, p. 11). people (South Africa, 1996). According to Rugby consists of various motoractivities that re- News24.com, SARFU has identified the under-16 quire certain anthropometric, physical and motor (U 16) age group schoolboysas thefirst level of as well as rugby-specific components. These com- talent identification (SARFU, 2003b, p. 1). With ponents are specific to the positional requirements this new player identification and development in rugby (Craven, 1974; De Ridder, 1993; Noakes strategy, the aim was to deliver the majority of & Du Plessis, 1996; Malan & Hanekom, 2001; Van Super 12 and Springbok players, and to carry SA Gent, 2003). Du Randt and Headley (1993, p. 112) rugby through to the 2011 World Cup. In South stated that the process of talent identification in Africa, U 19 and U 21 year-old players represent South Africa was uncontrolled and in the begin- the country internationally, therefore,it is important ning phase. Since thenscientific research on talent to identify talented rugby players at an early age. identification of young rugby players in South Af- To achieve this, a junior and youth programme rica has been done by De Ridder (1993), Pienaar was implemented at school level. The programme and Spamer(1995, 1998), Hare (1997) and Van Gent includes game-related core competencies such (2003), to namejust a few. Research has been done as talent rugby tournaments, coaching and team regarding positional requirements (Van Gent, 2003) selection (SARFU,2003a,p. 2). in the adolescent rugby player category. However, An outcomeofthis study is the compilation of still little is known abouttheelite schoolboy rugby a profile of the U 16 and U 18 rugby players, with players in South Africa and internationally. reference to anthropometric variables, physical One of the reasons for South Africa being and motorabilities, as well as game-specific skills the leader in world rugby is the neglect of one which will serve as a guide to school, provincial of the most important components of the present and international coaches on team selection and day rugby game, namely, conditioning of young individual training programmes. A further contri- 176 Spamer, E.J., and De la Port, Y.: ANTHROPOMETRIC, PHYSICAL AND MOTOR... Kinesiology 38(2006) 2:176-184 bution is that this research will support SARU in * body mass(kg), the process of identifying and developing young * stature / body height (cm), rugby players. Furthermore, this study also forms * sum of seven skinfolds (triceps, biceps, sub- a part of an international research project on the scapular, suprailiac, calf, thigh and abdomi- talent identification and the developmentwithelite nal skinfolds — in millimetres), young rugby players at school level between South * body fat percentage, Africa, New Zealand and England. On theresults * girths (flexed upper arm,calf, sub-gluteal, of the comparison of these international data will midthigh, knee and forearm — in centime- be reported later. tres), The aim of this study wasto identify the char- ° breadths (humerus, femur -~ in centime- acteristics of U 16 and U 18 elite rugby players tres), in South Africa with reference to anthropometric * muscle mass (%) and variables, physical and motorabilities, as well as * somatotype (endo-, meso- and ectomorph); game-specific skills. 2) the physical and motortests: Methods * speed (10-m and 40-m running) (Hazeldine & McNab, 1991) - in seconds, The research group consisted of all the U 16 ° explosive leg power(vertical jump) (Thomas (n = 71) and all U 18 (n = 75) elite South African & Nelson, 1985) - in centimetres, rugby players, also known as the Green Squad of * agility (Illinois-test) (AAHPER, 1966) - in SARU (U 16 meansfifteen-year-olds and U 18 re- seconds, fers to seventeen-year-olds). The Green Squad was * strength (IRM benchpress- in kilograms; chosen at the end of the U 16 (Grant Khomo) and pull-ups and push-ups - in number per U 18 (Craven Week for High Schools) rugby week minute) (Thomas & Nelson, 1985) and in 2003. The Green Squad consisted of all popu- * speed endurance (multistage shuttle run - in lation groups and hadrepresentation in all provin- seconds) (Léger & Lambert, 1982). cial teams in South Africa. The test protocol (an- thropometric, physical and motor, as well as game- 3) tugby-specitic skills tests: specific) as compiled by SARU wasusedandthis * ground skills ability (pick-up and place) battery of tests was executed during the mid-sea- (Australian Rugby Football Union, 1990) - son of 2003 and 2004 at each age group. Qualified in seconds, sport scientists received formaltraining in the spe- * passing for accuracy ability over 4 m (Pien- cific test method that wasused andin the recording aar & Spamer, 1995) — number, thereof. The Green Squad followeda training pro- * passing for distance ability (AAPHER,1966) gramme, compiled by SARU, during the mid-sea- - in metres, son (August 2003 to February 2004). Thetraining * kicking ability (kicking for distance) (AA- programmeconsisted of four training sessions per PHER.1966) - in metres, week,of sixty (60) minutes each. Training sessions * catching ability (catching and throwing over constituted weight training twice a week, cardio- the cross-bar) (Hare, 1997) - number. vascular training and runningskills three times per Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, week, plyometrics once a week and handlingskills minimum and maximum values) were usedas well twice a week.Thefirst weight training session was as practical significant differences (d-values) (Co- with free weights whilst the second weighttraining hen, 1988). To commenton practical significance, session was comprised of deadlifts, power cleans, the standardised difference between the means of powershrugs,military press andlateral pull-downs. two populations,i.e. the difference between the two During the weekends, players were encouragedto meansdivided by the highest standard deviation do swimming, spinning or treadmill running. Dur- wasused. The measurethat was introducedis called ing this period the Green Squad attended two Na- the effect size. The effect size makesthe difference tional training campsat a central venue. After the independent of units and sample size, and relates training camps, the training programmewasfol- with the spread of the data (Steyn, 1999, 2000). lowed by the players in their respective provinces. The sameplayers that were tested in 2003 were also Results and discussion tested during 2004. Unfortunately, a small number Although the aim of this study was to compile of the elite players were injured during the 2004 a status profile of the U 16 and U 18 elite school- testing period and were not evaluated. boy rugby players as well as a physical and game Thebattery of tests consisted of the following: skills profile for different playing positions of the 1) anthropometric data according to Lohman, Ro- U 16 and U 18 elite rugby player category in South che, and Martarell (1988) and Ross and Marfell- Africa, for this discussion of the results attention Jones (1991): will be given to the three major components,i.e. 177 Spamer, E.J., and De la Port, Y.: ANTHROPOMETRIC, PHYSICAL AND MOTOR... Kinesiology 38(2006) 2:176-184 anthropometric, physical and motor, and game-spe- and Hare (¥=18.7%) showed a higher percentage of cific componentsfor the two different age groups as fat than the elite South African boys (¥=15.0%). a whole. This will be done by meansofdescriptive In summary,the results of this study, together and inferential statistics (Tables 1, 2 and 3). In the with the other similar studies on U 16 nationalelite discussion ofthe results of this study on elite South rugby players, revealed that the elite South African African fifteen- and seventeen-year-old players the players were taller and heavier than the talented data will be compared with a few similar studies players in Hare’s study (1997), heavier than their which used the samebattery of tests that were done counterparts in Van Gent’s study (2003), but the in South Africa and England.