Off-Season Recovery Experiences Among Elite Women's Rugby Union Players

This study examined how elite women's rugby union players perceived their off-season recovery experiences. An exploratory cross-sectional survey was completed by 140 elite women's rugby union players (M age = 25.80, SD = 4.16) that captured global perceived readiness to train, recovery strategies, contextual demands, and preferred off-season structure. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while responses to open-ended questions were explored using reflexive thematic analysis. Players reported a range of sport- and non-sport related demands during the off-season, including injury management, physical preparation, financial pressures, education and professional development, and external employment. Players reported a preferred off-season duration of 5.19 weeks on average (range 4-10 weeks), incorporating three broad components: a complete break from rugby, remote or personal training, and reintegration into the rugby environment. Overall, the findings indicate that elite women's perceptions of off-season recovery reflect both rugby-related demands and wider occupational, educational and personal circumstances. The findings provide athlete-informed considerations for the design of off-season structures and identify areas for future prospective research.