Dietary Intake over a 7-Day Training and Game Period in Female Varsity Rugby Union Players

Area of Science:

• Sports Nutrition
• Exercise Physiology
• Female Athlete Health

Background:

• Female athletes often face unique nutritional challenges impacting performance and health.
• Understanding energy balance is crucial for optimizing training and recovery in elite sports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate daily energy intake (EI) and total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) in female varsity rugby players.
• To assess energy availability (EA) and macronutrient intake across a weekly training cycle.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen female rugby players were monitored over a 7-day period, including training, game, and recovery days.
• Energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (TDEE) were measured to calculate energy availability (EA).
• Macronutrient distribution (carbohydrate, fat, protein) was analyzed throughout the week.

Main Results:

• Average EI was 2158 kcal/day, while average TDEE was 2286 kcal/day, indicating a daily energy deficit of ~6%.
• Mean EA was 31.1 kcal/kg FFM/day, with 52% of players exhibiting poor EA (<30 kcal/kg FFM/day).
• Carbohydrate intake (3.38 g/kg/day) did not meet recommended guidelines for athletes.

Conclusions:

• Female rugby players in this study demonstrated suboptimal energy availability, potentially affecting health and performance.
• Current dietary practices may not adequately support the high energy demands of elite female rugby.
• Further research and nutritional interventions are needed to optimize energy intake and EA in this population.