Influences on the Physical Demands of International Women’s Sevens Rugby Jan Reyneke A thesis submitted to the Auckland University of Technology In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) 2016 Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... iv ATTESTATION OF AUTHORSHIP ....................................................................................... v CO-AUTHORED WORKS ....................................................................................................... vi INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS .............................................................................. vii ETHICAL APPROVAL .......................................................................................................... viii NOTE TO READER .................................................................................................................. ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................... x ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ xi CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 1 Thesis Rationale ................................................................................................................................ 1 Structure of the Thesis .................................................................................................................... 3 Significance of Research ................................................................................................................. 3 Research Questions .......................................................................................................................... 4 Originality of Research ................................................................................................................... 4 Limitations of Research .................................................................................................................. 5 Delimitations of Research .............................................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................................ 6 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 6 Influences on the Physical Demands of Female Rugby Sevens Match Play ....... 6 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Performance Analysis of Male and Female Rugby Sevens Match Play .......................... 7 Time Motion Analysis in Rugby Sevens ............................................................................................... 8 Notational Analysis in Sevens Rugby ................................................................................................ 17 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 21 CHAPTER 3 ............................................................................................................................. 22 THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S RUGBY SEVENS MATCH PLAY ......................................................................................................................... 22 Preface ............................................................................................................................................... 22 ii Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Methods ............................................................................................................................................. 24 Experimental Approach to the Problem .......................................................................................... 24 Subjects .......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Procedure...................................................................................................................................................... 24 Statistical Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 26 Results ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Differences Between Positional Groups ........................................................................................... 27 Differences Between Pool and Cup Matches .................................................................................. 28 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 32 Practical Applications .................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER 4 ............................................................................................................................. 34 THE INFLUENCE OF SCORE DIFFERENTIAL ON THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S SEVENS MATCH PLAY ................................................. 34 Preface ............................................................................................................................................... 34 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Methods ............................................................................................................................................. 36 Experimental Approach to the Problem .......................................................................................... 36 Subjects .......................................................................................................................................................... 37 Procedure...................................................................................................................................................... 37 Statistical Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 38 Results ............................................................................................................................................................ 39 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 41 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 42 Practical Applications .................................................................................................................. 43 CHAPTER 5 ............................................................................................................................. 44 SUMMARY, PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTION ................................................................................................................................................... 44 Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 44 Practical Applications .................................................................................................................. 46 Future Research Directions ....................................................................................................... 47 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................... 49 APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... 55 iii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Summary of GPS data inclusion criteria in sevens research ........................... 9 Table 2. Summary of total distances covered during matches using GPS .................. 10 Table 3. Summary of differences in positional running demands in men’s rugby sevens ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 Table 4. Summary of notational analysis studies perform on men’s rugby sevens 18 Table 5. Summary of match activities performed during sevens match play ........... 20 Table 6. Operational definitions of match activities of international women’s rugby