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Starling LT, Tucker R, Quarrie K, Schmidt J, Hassanein O, Smith C, Flahive S, Morris C, Lancaster S, Mellalieu S, Curran O, Gill N, Clarke W, Davies P, Harrington M, Falvey E. The World Rugby and International Rugby Players Contact Load Guidelines: From conception to implementation and the future. S Afr J Sports Med 2023; 35:v35i1a16376. [PMID: 38249755 PMCID: PMC10798596 DOI: 10.17159/2078-516x/2023/v35i1a16376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Managing training load in rugby union is crucial for optimising performance and injury prevention. Contact training warrants attention because of higher overall injury and head impact risk, yet players must develop physical, technical, and mental skills to withstand the demands of the game. To help coaches manage contact loads in professional rugby, World Rugby and International Rugby Players convened an expert working group. They conducted a global survey with players to develop contact load guidelines. This commentary aims to describe the contact load guidelines and their implementation, and identify areas where future work is needed to support their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- LT Starling
- World Rugby House, Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin,
Ireland
- Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath,
UK
| | - R Tucker
- World Rugby House, Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin,
Ireland
- Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine (ISEM), Department of Exercise, University of Stellenbosch,
South Africa
| | - K Quarrie
- New Zealand Rugby, Wellington,
New Zealand
| | - J Schmidt
- New Zealand Rugby, Wellington,
New Zealand
| | - O Hassanein
- International Rugby Players, Clonskeagh, Dublin,
Ireland
| | - C Smith
- International Rugby Players, Clonskeagh, Dublin,
Ireland
| | - S Flahive
- International Rugby Players, Clonskeagh, Dublin,
Ireland
| | - C Morris
- C J Morris Consulting Ltd, Cheshire,
UK
| | | | - S Mellalieu
- Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing Research (CAWR), Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff,
UK
| | - O Curran
- Irish Rugby Football Union, High Performance Centre, National Sports Campus, Dublin 15,
Ireland
| | - N Gill
- New Zealand Rugby, Wellington,
New Zealand
- University of Waikato, Tauranga,
New Zealand
| | - W Clarke
- New Zealand Rugby, Wellington,
New Zealand
| | - P Davies
- World Rugby House, Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin,
Ireland
| | - M Harrington
- World Rugby House, Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin,
Ireland
| | - E Falvey
- World Rugby House, Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin,
Ireland
- College of Medicine & Health, University College Cork, Cork,
Ireland
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