Physical Differences Between Forwards and Backs in American Collegiate Rugby Players. Issue 9 (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: La Monica, Michael B.; Fukuda, David H.; Miramonti, Amelia A.; Beyer, Kyle S.; Hoffman, Mattan W.; Boone, Carleigh H.; Tanigawa, Satoru; Wang, Ran; Church, David D.; Stout, Jeffrey R.; Hoffman, Jay R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of strength and conditioning research. Volume 30:Issue 9(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: athletic performance -- anthropometrics -- sports -- strength -- speed -- power; Physical education and training -- Periodicals; Weight training -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Physical fitness -- Periodicals; 613.7
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001388
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-8011

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: La Monica, MB, Fukuda, DH, Miramonti, AA, Beyer, KS, Hoffman, MW, Boone, CH, Tanigawa, S, Wang, R, Church, DD, Stout, JR, and Hoffman, JR. Physical differences between forwards and backs in American collegiate rugby players. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2382–2391, 2016—This study examined the anthropometric and physical performance differences between forwards and backs in a championship-level American male collegiate rugby team. Twenty-five male rugby athletes (mean ± SD ; age 20.2 ± 1.6 years) were assessed. Athletes were grouped according to position as forwards ( n = 13) and backs ( n = 12) and were evaluated on the basis of anthropometrics (height, weight, percent body fat [BF%]), cross-sectional area (CSA), muscle thickness (MT), and pennation angle (PA) of the vastus lateralis (VL), maximal strength (1 repetition maximum [1RM] bench press and squat), vertical jump power, midthigh pull (peak force [PF] and peak rate of force development [PRFD]), maximal aerobic capacity (V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak), agility (pro agility, T test), speed (40-m sprint), and a tethered sprint (peak velocity [PV], time to peak velocity, distance covered, and step rate and length). Comparisons between forwards and backs were analyzed using independent t -tests with Cohen's d effect size. Forwards were significantly different from backs for body weight (90.5 ± 12.4 vs. 73.7 ± 7.1 kg, p < 0.01; d = 1.60), BF% (12.6 ± 4.2 vs. 8.8 ± 2.1%, p ⩽ 0.05; d = 1.10), VL CSA (38.3 ± 9.1 vs. 28.7 ± 4.7 cm 3, p < 0.01; d = 1.26), 1RM bench press (121.1 ± 30.3 vs. 89.5 ± 20.4 kg, p ⩽ 0.05; d = 1.17), 1RM squat (164.6 ± 43.0 vs. 108.5 ± 31.5 kg, p < 0.01; d = 1.42), PF (2, 244.6 ± 505.2 vs. 1, 654.6 ± 338.8 N, p < 0.01; d = 1.32), PV (5.49 ± 0.25 vs. 5.14 ± 0.37 m·s −1, p ⩽ 0.05; d = 1.04), and step length (1.2 ± 0.1 vs. 1.1 ± 0.1 m, p ⩽ 0.05; d = 0.80). V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak was significantly ( p ⩽ 0.05, d = −1.20) higher in backs (54.9 ± 3.9 ml·kg·min −1 ) than in forwards (49.4 ± 4.4 ml·kg·min −1 ). No differences in agility performance were found between position groups. The results of this study provide descriptive information on anthropometric and performance measures on American male collegiate championship-level rugby players offering potential standards for coaches to use when developing or recruiting players.