Analyzing Physical Fitness and Anthropometry of Child and Adolescent Rugby Players in Brazil

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.efyd.e357590

Keywords:

anthropometry, body mass index, physical fitness, playing position, rugby, youth rugby

Abstract

This study analyzed the physical fitness and anthropometric characteristics of young Brazilian rugby players, considering sex, age group, and playing position. The sample consisted of 106 children (U13 and U15) and adolescent (U17 and U19) Brazilian rugby players of both sexes. Anthropometric characteristics (body mass, height, waist circumference, body mass index, and waist-to-height ratio) and physical fitness performance (abdominal muscle strength, horizontal jump test, 20-m linear sprint, push-ups, and 5-10-5 agility test) were assessed by an experienced researcher after a standardized warm-up. Results varied by sex, age group, and playing position. Overall, with few exceptions, male and adolescent players had higher levels of both physical fitness and anthropometric characteristics. Similarly, playing position analysis revealed specific patterns that reflect the demands of each distinct position on the field. This study provides generalizable, position-specific metrics that may be useful to the rugby community.

|Abstract
= 229 veces | PDF
= 184 veces|

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Filipe Oliveira Bicudo, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

Specialist in Strength and Hypertrophy Training. Member of ‘Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Educação Física e Esportes (GEPEFE/UFMT)’. Head Coach of the ‘Melina rugby Clube’. Researcher at Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil. Email: filipebicudo@gmail.com

Erivaldo Machado Araújo, Centro Universitário do Distrito Federal

Master's in Physical Education. Member of ‘Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Educação Física e Esportes (GEPEFE/UFMT)’. Assistant Professor at Centro Universitário do Distrito Federal, Brasilia, Brazil. Email: erivaldorpg@hotmail.com

Jaciaria Paula Oliveira de Jesus Garcia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

Physical Education Teacher. Member of ‘Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Educação Física e Esportes (GEPEFE/UFMT)’, Cuiabá, Brazil. Email: jaci0812@gmail.com

Lucas Savassi Figueiredo, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

Doctor in Sports Sciences. Member of ‘Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Educação Física e Esportes (GEPEFE/UFMT)’ and ‘Grupo de Pesquisa em Educação Física e Ciências do Esporte (UFRPE/CoMNeuro UFJF)’. Adjunct Professor at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, Brazil. Email: savassi88@hotmail.com

Alexandre Konig Garcia Prado, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

Doctor in Human Movement Sciences. Member of ‘Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisa em Atividades Aquáticas e Fisiologia do Exercício (GEPAFE)’. Adjunct Professor at the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil. Email: akgprado@gmail.com

Henrique de Oliveira Castro, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso

Doctor in Sports Sciences. Member of ‘Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Educação Física e Esportes (GEPEFE/UFMT)’. Adjunct Professor at the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil. Email: henriquecastro88@yahoo.com.br

References

1. Barr, M., Sheppard, J., Gabbett, T., & Newton, R. (2014). Long-Term Training-Induced Changes in Sprinting Speed and Sprint Momentum in Elite Rugby Union Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(10), 2724-2731. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000364

2. Cahill, N., Lamb, K., Worsfold, P., Headey, R., & Murray, S. (2013). The Movement Characteristics of English Premiership Rugby Union Players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(3), 229-237. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.727456

3. Chiwaridzo, M., Mudawarima, T., Shumba, T. W., Ferguson, G. D., & Smits-Engelsman, B. C. (2024). A Comparative Analysis of Physical Fitness Characteristics and Rugby-Specific Game Skills of Schoolboy Players by Playing Standards: Implications for Talent Identification Programs in Resource-Constrained Settings. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 36(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516X/2024/v36i1a18525

4. Dacres-Manning, S. (1998). Anthropometry of the NSW Rugby Union 12 Team. Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport (Ed), Australian conference of science and medicine in sport (94 p.). Adelaide: Sport Medicine Australia.

5. Delahunt, E., Byrne, R. B., Doolin, R. K., McInerney, R. G., Ruddock, C. T. J., & Green, B. S. (2013). Anthropometric Profile and Body Composition of Irish Adolescent Rugby Union Players Aged 16-18. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(12), 3252-3258. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0B013E3182915EA6

6. Deutsch, M. U., Kearney, G. A., & Rehrer, N. J. (2007). Time-Motion Analysis of Professional Rugby Union Players during Match-Play. Journal of Sports Sciences, 25(4), 461-472. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410600631298

7.Dimundo, F., Cole, M., Blagrove, R., Till, K., Alexander, B. T., McAuley, A., Hall, M., Gale, C., & Kelly, A. L. (2021). Talent Identification and Development in Male Rugby Union: A Systematic Review. Journal of Expertise, 4(1), 33-55. https://www.journalofexpertise.org/articles/volume4_issue1/JoE_4_1_Dimundo_etal.html

8. Duthie, G., Pyne, D., & Hooper, S. (2003). Applied Physiology and Game Analysis of Rugby Union. Sports Medicine, 33(13), 973-991. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200333130-00003

9.Emmonds, S., Weaving, D., Dalton-Barron, N., Rennie, G., Hunwicks, R., Tee, J., Owens, C., & Jones, B. (2020). Locomotor Characteristics of the Women’s Inaugural Super League Competition and the Rugby League World Cup. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(21), 2454-2461. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1790815

10. Engebretsen, L., & Steffen, K. (2010). Rugby in Rio in 2016! British Journal of Sports Medicine, 44(3), 157. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2010.71555

11. Fontana, F. Y., Colosio, A., De Roia, G. F., Da Lozzo, G., & Pogliaghi, S. (2015). Anthropometrics of Italian Senior Male Rugby Union Players: From Elite to Second Division. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 10(6), 674-680. https://doi.org/10.1123/IJSPP.2015-0014

12. Fuller, C. W., Taylor, A., & Raftery, M. (2017). 2016 Rio Olympics: An Epidemiological Study of the Men’s and Women’s Rugby-7s Tournaments. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(17), 1272-1278. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28137789/

13. Gabbett, T. J. (2005). Physiological and Anthropometric Characteristics of Junior rugby League Players over a Competitive Season. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 19(4), 764-771. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-097301

14. Gaya, A. R., Gaya, A., Pedretti, A., & Mello, J. (2021). Projeto Esporte Brasil Manual de Medidas, Testes e Avaliações. Versão 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/217804

15. Guerriero, A., Schultz, F., Arenhart, I., & Ramos, M. (2020). Manual de Testes Físicos: Brasil Rugby 2019-2023. Seleção Masculina 15s-7s, Seleção Feminina 15s-7s. Confederação Brasileira de Rugby. https://brasilrugby.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Manual-De-Testes-Brasil-Rugby-compactado.pdf

16. Gutierrez, D. M., Antonio, V. S. R., Kater, T., & de Almeida, M. A. B. (2017). A Study on the Introduction and Institucionalization of Rugby in Brazil. Journal of Physical Education, 28(1), e2841. https://doi.org/10.4025/JPHYSEDUC.V28I1.2841

17. Henderson, J. M., Harries, K. S., Poulos, N., Fransen, J., & Coutts, J. A. (2018). Rugby Sevens Match Demands and Measurement of Performance: A Review. Kinesiology, 50(1), 49-59. https://hrcak.srce.hr/ojs/index.php/kinesiology/article/view/6350

18. Jones, T. W., Keane, K., Smith, A., Dent, J., McShane, K., Payne, T., Williams, L., Maguire, P., Marshall, S. J., & Graham-Smith, P. (2019). Which Anthropometric and Lower Body Power Variables are Predictive of Professional and Amateur Playing Status in male Rugby Union Players? International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching, 14(1), 82-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954118805956

19. Kobal, R., Nakamura, F. Y., Moraes, J. E., Coelho, M., Kitamura, K., Cal Abad, C. C., Pereira, L. A., & Loturco, I. (2016). Physical Performance of Brazilian Rugby Players from Different Age Categories and Competitive Levels. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 30(9), 2433-2439. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001348

20. Lesinski, M., Schmelcher, A., Herz, M., Puta, C., Gabriel, H., Arampatzis, A., Laube, G., Büsch, D., & Granacher, U. (2020). Maturation-, Age-, and Sex-Specific Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Percentiles of German Elite Young Athletes. PLoS ONE, 15(8), e0237423. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237423

21. Lopes, A. L., Sant’ana, R. T., Baroni, B. M., Cunha, G. dos S., Radaelli, R., Oliveira, Á. R., & Castro, F. de S. (2011). Perfil antropométrico e fisiológico de atletas brasileiros de “rugby”. Revista Brasileira de Educação Física e Esporte, 25(3), 387-395. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-55092011000300004

22. Malina, R. M., Bouchard, C., & Bar-Or, O. (2004). Growth, Maturation, and Physical Activity. Human Kinetics.

23. Mello, J. B., Nagorny, G. A. K., De Castro Haiachi, M., Gaya, A. R., & Gaya, A. C. A. (2016). Projeto Esporte Brasil: Physical Fitness Profile related to Sport Performance of Children and Adolescents. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 18(6), 658-666. https://doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2016v18n6p658

24. Owen, C., Till, K., Darrall-Jones, J., & Jones, B. (2022). Statistical Analysis Considerations within Longitudinal Studies of Physical Qualities in Youth Athletes: A Qualitative Systematic Methodological Review. PLoS ONE, 17(7), 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0270336

25. Owen, C., Till, K., Weakley, J., & Jones, B. (2020). Testing Methods and Physical Qualities of Male Age Grade Rugby Union Players: A Systematic Review. PLoS ONE, 15(6), 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0233796

26. Pelicer, R., Nagamine, K. K., Faria, M. A., Freitas, V. de L., Neiva, C. M., Filho, D. M. P., Ciolac, E. G., & Verardi, C. E. L. (2016). Heath-Related Physical Fitness in School Children and Adolescents. International Journal of Sports Science, 6(1), 19-24. http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.s.sports.201601.04.html

27. Pino-Ortega, J., Rojas-Valverde, D., Gómez-Carmona, C. D., & Rico-González, M. (2021). Training Design, Performance Analysis, and Talent Identification-A Systematic Review about the Most Relevant Variables through the Principal Component Analysis in Soccer, Basketball, and Rugby. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH18052642

28. Quarrie, K. L., Handcock, P., Waller, A. E., Chalmers, D. J., Toomey, M. J., & Wilson, B. D. (1996). The New Zealand Rugby Injury and Performance Project (III). Anthropometric and Physical Performance Characteristics of Players. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 29(4), 263-270. http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.s.sports.201601.04.html

29. Rigg, P., & Reilly, T. (1988). A Fitness Profile and Anthropometric Analysis of First- and Second-Class Rugby Union Players. In T. Reilly, A. Lees, K. Davids, W. J. Murphy (Eds.), Science and Football. Proceedings of the first World Congress of Science and Football. Liverpool, 13-17th April 1987 (pp. 194-200). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203720035

30. Ross, A., Gill, N., & Cronin, J. (2014). Match Analysis and Player Characteristics in Rugby Sevens. Sports Medicine, 44, 357-367. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40279-013-0123-0

31. Scantlebury, S., McCormack, S., Sawczuk, T., Emmonds, S., Collins, N., Beech, J., Ramírez, C., Owen, C., & Jones, B. (2022). The Anthropometric and Physical Qualities of Women’s Rugby League Super League and International Players; Identifying Differences in Playing Position and Level. PloS ONE, 17(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1371/Journal.pone.0249803

32. Sedeaud, A., Marc, A., Schipman, J., Tafflet, M., Hager, J. P., & Toussaint, J. F. (2012). How They won Rugby World Cup through Height, Mass and Collective Experience. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(8), 580-584. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22348873/

33. Sella, F. S., McMaster, D. T., Beaven, C. M., Gill, N. D., & Hebert-Losier, K. (2019). Match Demands, Anthropometric Characteristics, and Physical Qualities of Female Rugby Sevens Athletes: A Systematic Review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(12), 3463-3474. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090506

34. Smart, D. J., Hopkins, W. G., & Gill, N. D. (2013). Differences and Changes in the Physical Characteristics of Professional and Amateur Rugby Union Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(11), 3033-3044. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0B013E31828C26D3

35. Tessutti, L. S., Aguiar, S. S., Costa, G. C. T., Clemente, F. M., Lima, R. F., Neves, R. V. P., Praça, G. M., & Castro, H. O. (2019). Body Composition and Performance Variables Differences in Female Volleyball Players by Agegroup and Playing Position. Revista Brasileira de Cineantropometria & Desempenho Humano, 21, e60131. https://doi.org/10.1590/1980-0037.2019V21E60131

36. Vaz, L., Vasilica, I., Carreras, D., Kraak, W., & Nakamura, F. Y. (2016). Physical Fitness Profiles of Elite Under-19 Rugby Union Players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 56(4), 415-421. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25651896/

37. Woodhouse, L. N., Tallent, J., Patterson, S. D., & Waldron, M. (2022). International Female Rugby Union Players’ Anthropometric and Physical Performance Characteristics: A Five-Year Longitudinal Analysis by Individual Positional Groups. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(4), 370-378. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1993656

38. World Rugby. (2023). Advanced Conditioning for Rugby (Pre-Level 2). https://passport.world.rugby/conditioning-for-rugby/advanced-conditioning-for-rugby-pre-level-2/

39. Yao, X., Curtis, C., Turner, A., Bishop, C., Austerberry, A., & Chavda, S. (2021). Anthropometric Profiles and Physical Characteristics in Competitive Female English Premiership Rugby Union Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(9), 1234-1241. https://doi.org/10.1123/IJSPP.2020-0017

Downloads

Published

2024-06-20

How to Cite

Bicudo, F. O., Araújo, E. M., Garcia, J. P. O. de J., Figueiredo, L. S., Prado, A. K. G., & Castro, H. de O. (2024). Analyzing Physical Fitness and Anthropometry of Child and Adolescent Rugby Players in Brazil. Educación Física Y Deporte, 43(1), 55–76. https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.efyd.e357590

Issue

Section

Research articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)