Physiologically based GPS speed zones for evaluating running demands in Women's Rugby Sevens

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Physiology
• Rugby Performance Analysis

Background:

• High-speed running thresholds (e.g., >5 m·s⁻¹) are commonly used in rugby but may not accurately reflect female players' high-intensity exercise.
• Existing thresholds may underestimate the physiological demands of Women's Rugby Sevens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a physiologically defined threshold for high-intensity running in international Women's Rugby Sevens players.
• To compare mean and individualized speed at the second ventilatory threshold (VT(2peed)) for analyzing game intensity.

Main Methods:

• Collected 5 Hz GPS data on 12 international Women's Rugby Sevens players during competition.
• Determined individual VT(2peed) using treadmill VO(2max) tests in 7 players.
• Analyzed high-intensity running using both a standard threshold (5 m·s⁻¹) and individualized VT(2peed).

Main Results:

• The standard 5 m·s⁻¹ threshold underestimated high-intensity running by up to 30% compared to the mean VT(2peed) (3.5 m·s⁻¹).
• Individualized thresholds showed variations of up to 14% in high-intensity running assessment compared to the mean VT(2peed).

Conclusions:

• The commonly used 5 m·s⁻¹ threshold is inappropriate for Women's Rugby Sevens, underestimating player exertion.
• Individualized physiological thresholds (VT(2peed)) are essential for accurate assessment of game demands.
• Individualized data informs more precise training prescription for female rugby sevens athletes.