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. 2023 Nov 10;9:106. doi: 10.1186/s40798-023-00650-z

Table 5.

Aerobic capacity reported in male, adolescent rugby league players according to age group, playing level, and playing position

Study Playing level Position Sample size (n) Age (years) Multistage Fitness Test predicted V˙O2max (mL kg−1 min−1) Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test distance (m)
12 years of age
Gabbett et al. [1]a Academy Forwards 13 12.5 ± 0.5 32.1 ± 4.1 –
Academy Backs 14 12.3 ± 0.5 36.2 ± 4.2 –
13 years of age
Gabbett et al. [48] Academy All 53 13.2 ± 0.6 39.9 ± 6.9
Gabbett et al. [1]a Academy Forwards 7 13.5 ± 0.5 40.5 ± 5.4 –
Academy Backs 10 13.7 ± 0.4 40.8 ± 7.4 –
Till et al. [51] Academy All 207 13.6 ± 0.3 47.2 ± 4.8 –
Till et al. [45] Eliteb All 255 13.6 ± 0.3 46.4 ± 4.7 –
Elitec All 130 13.7 ± 0.2 49.5 ± 3.7 –
Till et al. [39] Amateur All 50 13.6 ± 0.3 45.1 ± 4.8
Academy All 32 13.6 ± 0.2 47.3 ± 5.9
Elite All 13 13.6 ± 0.3 47.0 ± 4.6
Till et al. [8] Amateur All 249 13.6 ± 0.6 47.6 ± 5.6 –
Academy All 261 13.6 ± 0.6 49.6 ± 4.9 –
Elite All 70 13.8 ± 0.7 49.8 ± 4.6 –
Till et al. [50] Amateur All NR 13.6 ± 0.2 54.5 ± 7.2 –
Academy All NR 13.7 ± 0.1 47.7 ± 5.9 –
Elite All NR 13.4 ± 0.3 48.6 ± 3.8 –
Till et al. [95] Academy All NR 13.8 ± 0.1 48.6 ± 4.8 –
Till et al. [102] Academy All NR 13.6 ± 0.2 47.9 ± 5.4
Outside backs NR 13.7 ± 0.2 50.8 ± 3.8
Pivots NR 13.5 ± 0.3 49.1 ± 3.7
Props NR 13.6 ± 0.2 42.4 ± 7.2
Backs NR 13.7 ± 0.2 47.4 ± 3.4
14 years of age
Gabbett et al. [47] Academy All 14 14.1 ± 0.2 43.3 ± 1.3 –
Gabbett et al. [1]a Academy Forwards 11 14.5 ± 0.5 38.5 ± 4.5 –
Academy Backs 12 14.6 ± 0.5 41.4 ± 4.6 –
Till et al. [51] Academy All 226 14.6 ± 0.3 48.7 ± 5.4 –
Till et al. [45] Eliteb All 309 14.6 ± 0.3 48.7 ± 5.3 –
Elitec All 86 14.6 ± 0.3 50.9 ± 3.9 –
Till et al. [50] Amateur All NR 14.6 ± 0.2 45.7 ± 5.4 –
Academy All NR 14.7 ± 0.1 51.8 ± 4.5 –
Elite All NR 14.4 ± 0.3 50.6 ± 3.7 –
Till et al. [102] Academy All NR 14.6 ± 0.2 50.1 ± 4.7
Outside backs NR 14.7 ± 0.2 51.8 ± 5.1
Pivots NR 14.5 ± 0.3 50.1 ± 3.8
Props NR 14.6 ± 0.2 46.2 ± 4.3
Backs NR 14.7 ± 0.2 50.8 ± 4.0
Till et al. [39] Amateur All 92 14.6 ± 0.3 47.0 ± 5.8
Academy All 85 14.6 ± 0.3 49.1 ± 5.0
Elite All 18 14.5 ± 0.3 49.3 ± 4.4
Till et al. [95] Academy All NR 14.8 ± 0.1 50.6 ± 5.0 –
Till et al. [59] Academy All 31 NRf – 1027 ± 510
15 years of age
Waldron et al. [46] Academy All 13 15.1 ± 0.3 48.1 ± 3.4 –
Dobbin et al. [66] Academy All 235 15.1 ± 0.8 – 727 ± 252
Academy Wingers 15.1 ± 0.8 – 756 ± 248
Academy Centres 15.1 ± 0.8 – 742 ± 252
Academy Halves 15.1 ± 0.9 – 808 ± 232
Academy Hookers 15.1 ± 0.1 – 777 ± 335
Academy Props 15.1 ± 0.1 – 591 ± 249
Academy Back rowers 15.1 ± 0.1 – 702 ± 216
Gabbet et al. [48] Academy All 20 15.1 ± 0.6 41.5 ± 7.2 –
Waldron et al. [52] Academy All 21 15.1 ± 0.3 47.0 ± 2.1
Gabbett et al. [1]a Academy Forwards 12 15.4 ± 0.9 42.9 ± 4.4 –
Academy Backs 9 15.4 ± 0.5 49.5 ± 4.0 –
Till et al. [51] Academy All 204 15.5 ± 0.3 50.9 ± 4.6 –
Tredrea et al. [60] Academy All 49 15.5 ± 0.6 44.8 ± 5.1 –
Elite All 51 15.5 ± 0.4 48.1 ± 5.2 –
Till et al. [45] Eliteb All 306 15.6 ± 0.3 50.6 ± 4.8 –
Elitec All 86 15.6 ± 0.3 51.1 ± 3.6 –
Till et al. [102] Academy All NR 15.6 ± 0.2 51.3 ± 4.6
Outside backs NR 15.7 ± 0.2 51.8 ± 4.6
Pivots NR 15.5 ± 0.3 52.3 ± 3.4
Props NR 15.6 ± 0.2 48.0 ± 5.0
Backs NR 15.7 ± 0.2 52.6 ± 4.1
Till et al. [39] Amateur All 107 15.6 ± 0.3 49.5 ± 5.1
Academy All 144 15.6 ± 0.3 51.2 ± 4.5
Elite All 39 15.5 ± 0.3 51.9 ± 3.8
Till et al. [50] Amateur All NR 15.6 ± 0.2 47.9 ± 4.6 –
Academy All NR 15.7 ± 0.1 52.2 ± 5.3 –
Elite All NR 15.4 ± 0.3 53.7 ± 2.9 –
Till et al. [61] Academy All 35 15.7 ± 0.2 – 1372 ± 443
Till et al. [95] Academy All NR 15.8 ± 0.1 50.6 ± 4.6 –
Gabbett et al. [14]a Academy All 36 15.9 ± 0.6 43.3 ± 5.4 –
Academy Hit-up forwards 15.8 ± 0.7 42.1 ± 6.3 –
Academy Adjustables 15.7 ± 0.4 44.6 ± 5.6 –
Academy Outside backse 16.1 ± 0.7 43.4 ± 4.7 –
Elite Alle 28 16.0 ± 0.2 48.2 ± 4.6 –
Elite Hit-up forwards 15.9 ± 0.4 48.9 ± 4.1 –
Elite Adjustablese 16.0 ± 0.2 48.1 ± 5.1 –
Elite Outside backse 16.0 ± 0.2 47.5 ± 4.6 –
Till et al. [96] Academy All 64 47.3 ± 3.4
Forwards 37 NRg 47.1 ± 3.7 –
Backs 27 NRg 47.5 ± 3.0 –
16 years of age
Waldron et al. [52] Academy All 21 16.2 ± 0.3 48.1 ± 3.9
Waldron et al. [46] Academy All 13 16.2 ± 0.3 48.3 ± 3.6 –
Gabbet et al. [48] Academy All 15 16.5 ± 0.3 43.9 ± 5.8 –
Till et al. [61] Academy All 44 16.7 ± 0.2 – 1475 ± 327
Gabbett et al. [47] Academy All 21 16.9 ± 0.3 43.4 ± 1.1 –
Gabbet et al. [49] Academy All 36 16.9 ± 0.6 46.3 ± 3.2
Till et al. [96] Academy All 46 NRh 48.7 ± 2.8 –
Forwards 27 NRh 48.9 ± 3.2 –
Academy Backs 19 NRh 48.5 ± 2.1 –
Till et al. [103] Academy All 37 NRh – 1436 ± 336
Elite All 13 NRh – 1553 ± 287
Till et al. [59] Academy All 75 NRh – 1234 ± 408
17 years of age
Waldron et al. [52] Academy All 15 17.0 ± 0.4 51.7 ± 3.8
Waldron et al. [46] Academy All 13 17.0 ± 0.3 52.2 ± 3.5 –
Dobbin et al. [62] Academy All 50 17.1 ± 1.1 – 766 ± 232
Dobbin et al. [42] Academy All 16 17.2 ± 0.7 638 ± 192
Pearce et al. [72] Academy All 52 17.2 ± 0.5 – 909 ± 313
Till et al. [97] Academy All 16 17.3 ± 0.7 – 1320 ± 242
Dobbin et al. [65] Academy All 197 17.4 ± 1.0 847 ± 205
Back Row 17.5 ± 0.8 760 ± 188
Centre 17.2 ± 0.9 845 ± 216
Forward 17.3 ± 0.5 657 ± 108
Full back 17.4 ± 0.9 957 ± 162
Half Back 17.3 ± 1.1 933 ± 280
Hooker 17.2 ± 1.2 1127 ± 187
Loose Forward 17.5 ± 0.8 853 ± 278
Prop 17.2 ± 0.9 665 ± 209
Scrum Half 17.3 ± 1.4 954 ± 171
Second Row 17.9 ± 1.4 826 ± 171
Stand-Off 18.0 ± 0.6 749 ± 231
Winger 17.4 ± 1.1 835 ± 264
Tredrea et al. [60] Academy All 41 17.4 ± 0.7 45.6 ± 4.9 –
Elite All 19 17.0 ± 0.7 47.9 ± 7.1 –
Dobbin et al. [66]d Elite All 365 17.5 ± 2.0 – 775 ± 233
Elite Wingers 17.5 ± 2.0 – 773 ± 241
Elite Centres 17.5 ± 2.0 – 799 ± 226
Elite Halves 17.5 ± 2.1 – 871 ± 206
Elite Hookers 17.5 ± 2.2 – 960 ± 256
Elite Props 17.5 ± 2.3 – 615 ± 147
Elite Back rowers 17.5 ± 2.4 – 769 ± 215
Gabbett et al. [22]d Academy Props 37 17.6 ± 2.4 42.2 ± 7.4 –
Academy Hookers 31 17.3 ± 1.1 46.9 ± 7.1 –
Academy Second rowers 36 17.2 ± 1.8 45.1 ± 6.7 –
Academy Lockse 11 16.5 ± 1.5 44.6 ± 6.0 –
Academy Halfbackse 27 16.7 ± 1.5 50.5 ± 5.3 –
Academy Five eighthse 11 16.7 ± 1.6 48.3 ± 6.1 –
Academy Centres 27 17.0 ± 2.3 47.1 ± 6.7 –
Academy Wings 39 17.7 ± 2.2 45.7 ± 6.2 –
Academy Fullbacks 21 17.4 ± 2.0 47.8 ± 5.2 –
Till et al. [61] Academy All 34 17.7 ± 0.3 1408 ± 281
Gabbett et al. [1]a Academy Forwards 10 17.8 ± 0.8 43.9 ± 5.0 –
Academy Backs 12 17.3 ± 0.8 46.1 ± 6.0 –
Gabbett et al. [23]a Academy All 36 17.9 ± 0.4 43.7 ± 12.6 –
Till et al. [96] Academy All 55 48.9 ± 2.9
Forwards 31 NRi 48.8 ± 3.3 –
Backs 24 NRi 49.1 ± 2.2 –
Till et al. [103] Academy All 41 NRi – 1464 ± 354
Elite All 19 NRi – 1535 ± 322
Till et al. [59] Academy All 64 NRi – 1223 ± 328
18 years of age
Till et al. [61] Academy All 16 18.7 ± 0.2 – 1353 ± 352
Pearce et al. [72] Academy All 53 18.9 ± 0.6 – 894 ± 369
Till et al. [96] Academy All 44 48.5 ± 2.9
Forwards 25 NRj 48.3 ± 3.2 –
Academy Backs 19 NRj 48.9 ± 2.7 –
Till et al. [103] Academy All 30 NRj – 1475 ± 443
Elite All 19 NRj – 1443 ± 259

NR not reported, – not tested, All players combined across all positions

aReported 95% confidence intervals, which were converted to standard deviation according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0

bPlayers classified as elite by definition used in this review but as ‘regional’ by the authors

cPlayers classified as elite by definition used in this review but as ‘national’ by the authors

dTotal sample size (all positions combined) was reported rather than independently for each position

eSample age reported across multiple years, and across various playing positions (data allocated according to weighted mean age)

fAge provided categorically as under 14 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation

gAge provided categorically as under 15 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation

hAge provided categorically as under 16 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation

iAge provided categorically as under 17 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation

jAge provided categorically as under 18 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation