Table 3.
The training exposure of young English rugby union players
| Study | Level of play | Age group | Sample size (n) | Study duration | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmer-Green et al. [45] | School | U18 | 250 | 2 seasons (2006–2007; 2007–2008) | 72 h/season comprised of 58% rugby, 15% conditioning, 13% weights, 6% speed, 5% prehab, 3% other |
| Academy | U18 | 222 | 190 h/season comprised of 37% rugby, 11% conditioning, 27% weights, 4% speed, 12% prehab, 9% other | ||
| Taylor et al. [49] | Academy | U18 | 10 | 6 weeks in season (178 training sessions/matches) |
Mean weekly − training duration = 205 ± 96 min. The mean weekly internal loads were sRPE = 877 ± 273 AU, bTRIMP = 271 ± 97 AU, eTRIMP = 360 ± 104 AU, luTRIMP = 295 ± 92 AU, iTRIMP = 479 ± 199 AU. Mean weekly external loads were total distance = 9939 ± 2989 m, PL = 941 ± 324 AU, iHSD = 3081 ± 844 m, 15HSD = 2317 ± 752 m and 18HSD = 738 ± 210 m. |
| Roe et al. [50] | Academy | U21 | 14 | 11 weeks pre-season | Mean weekly sRPE = 1810 ± 310 AU |
| Weakley et al. [46] | School | U18 | 35 | 12 weeks in-season | Gym frequency = 1.4 ± 0.6, training load (sRPE) = 1014.0 ± 1016.0 AU, gym training time = 78.0 ± 33.2 min, non-gym training time = 120.0 ± 151.0 min, training time = 188.0 ± 144.0, lower body exercises completed 1.5 ± 0.8, lower body volume load completed 1967.0 ± 1352.0 kg, upper body exercises completed = 3.0 ± 1.7, upper body volume load completed = 3477 ± 2248, volume load complete = 5443.0 ± 3423.0 kg |
| Phibbs et al. [47] | School | U16 | 31 | 1 week in-season |
Duration = 50.1 ± 6.6, sRPE = 123 ± 39, avg HR = 145 ± 8, total distance = 2672 ± 456, average speed = 54.9 ± 12.3, HSR = 751 ± 242 and PL = 262 ± 41. Duration = 56.8 ± 11.9, sRPE = 168 ± 55, avg HR = 134 ± 9, total distance = 2925 ± 467, average speed = 54.59 ± 10.4, HSR = 678 ± 179 and PL = 270 ± 42. Duration = 63.9 ± 9.7, sRPE = 231 ± 73, avg HR = 145 ± 11, total distance = 3619 ± 664, average speed = 56.8 ± 7.4, HSR = 955 ± 256 and PL = 354 ± 74. Duration = 70.3 ± 8.8, sRPE = 230 ± 67, avg HR = 148 ± 14, total distance = 3845 ± 577, average speed = 54.9 ± 7.5, HSR = 597 ± 246 and PL = 371 ± 75. Duration = 48.3 ± 5.1, sRPE = 211 ± 50, avg HR = 151 ± 12, total distance = 2903 ± 434, average speed = 59.9 ± 5.7, HSR = 590 ± 219 and PL = 316 ± 53. Duration = 62.0 ± 0.0, sRPE = 236 ± 42, avg HR = 151 ± 12, total distance = 4176 ± 433, average speed = 68.1 ± 7.3, HSR = 1279 ± 288,256 and PL = 424 ± 56. |
| U18 | 39 | ||||
| Club | U16 | 36 | |||
| U18 | 30 | ||||
| Academy | U16 | 18 | |||
| U18 | 16 | ||||
| Phibbs et al. [9] | School | U18 F | 15 | In-season (8 matches and 15 training sessions) |
Duration = 76.7 ± 12.9, total distance = 3433 ± 300, LS = 3238 ± 327, HSR = 276 ± 71, VHSR = 21 ± 30, MSS = 7.1 ± 0.7 and PL = 345 ± 43. Duration = 76.7 ± 12.9, total distance = 3821 ± 386, LS = 3739 ± 197, HSR = 275 ± 105, VHSR = 4 ± 9, MSS = 7.2 ± 0.6 and PL = 350 ± 48 Duration = 68.1 ± 1.4, total distance = 4031 ± 755, LS = 3719 ± 649, HSR = 252 ± 120, VHSR = 5 ± 9, MSS = 7.2 ± 0.6 and PL = 345 ± 43. Duration = 68.3 ± 1.3, total distance = 4678 ± 356, LS = 4393 ± 348, HSR = 345 ± 160, VHSR = 5 ± 20, MSS = 7.9 ± 0.6 and PL = 476 ± 53. |
| U18 B | 15 | ||||
| Academy | U18 F | 16 | |||
| U18 B | 15 | ||||
| Phibbs et al. [48] | Academy | U18 | 20 | 10 weeks in-season (97 complete weeks) | Total duration = 301 ± 92 min, total sRPE = 1217 ± 364 AU; rugby duration = 214 ± 64 min, rugby sRPE = 845 ± 263 AU, gym duration = 72 ± 44 min, gym sRPE = 315 ± 180 AU, total distance = 11,629 ± 3445 m, VHSR = 20 ± 38 m, PL = 1124 ± 330 AU, PLslow = 542 ± 165 AU |
| Phibbs et al. [13] | Academy | U18 | 20 | 14 weeks in-season (1960 daily observations) | Total duration = 349 ± 128 min, total sRPE = 1425 ± 545 AU; rugby match duration = 50 ± 44 min, rugby match sRPE = 263 ± 255 AU, rugby training duration = 178 ± 115, rugby training sRPE = 662 ± 465, gym duration = 86 ± 61 min, gym sRPE = 339 ± 269 AU, other duration = 36 ± 62 min, other sRPE = 120 ± 195 AU |
Data are displayed as mean ± SD. Sample size is the number of participants in the study
F forwards, B Backs, h/season hours per season, sRPE session rating of perceived exertion, bTRIMP bannister training impulse, eTRIMP Edwards training impulse, luTRIMP Lucia training impulse, iTRIMP individualised training impulse, AU arbitrary unit, PL PlayerLoad, iHSD individualised high speed distance (> velocity at OBLA), 15HSD high speed distance (> 15 km/h), 18HSD very high speed distance (> 18 km/h), kg kilogrammes, avg HR average heart rate, LS low speed running distance, HSR high speed running, distance, VHSR very high speed running distance, MSS maximal sprint speed