Physical fitness of elite women's rugby union players over a ...

Durandt et al., (2006) indicate that a 16 year old (77.1 ± 11.8 kg) male elite rugby player
lifted less weight than a 18 year-old male (95.3 ± 16.7 kg) in the 1 RM bench press test for
upper body strength. The greater strength in 18 year olds was attributed to maturation, training
discrepancies or a combination of the two (Durandt et al., 2006). Significant differences were
also reported by Mayes and Nuttall (1995) between senior and U21 male Welsh Rugby Union
players regarding their three- repetition maximum bench press of 98.7± 13.7 kg and 83.1 ±
14.4 kg respectively. These findings may be attributed, in part to neural adaptations that occur
with long-term periodised strength training of professional rugby players (Baker, 2001a). It
appears that rugby players require a high degree of muscularity combined with exceptional
levels of upper and lower body strength however no study has investigated the muscular
strength of female rugby players. The evaluation of strength could assist in the development of
scientific knowledge in rugby union.
Power expression on rugby union players has been assessed by measures of vertical jump
height (Carlson et al., 1994; Maud, 1983; Quarrie et al., 1995; Quarrie & Wilson, 2000; Tong
& Mayes, 1995), squat jump and bench throw (Crewther et al., 2009). Investigations have
commonly used the vertical jump test instead of the squat jump to assess muscular leg power
as it equipment is portable and can be used on the appropriate surfaces. Research indicates
that backs generally produce a superior vertical jump performance compared with forwards
(Maud, 1983; Rigg & Reilly, 1988), while surprisingly, vertical jumping performance
decreased as playing level increased. This is similar to a previous study on New Zealand
senior female rugby union forwards players (Quarrie et al., 1995). However, it is contrast to
studies by Kirby & Reilly (1996) and Gabbett (2007) on elite women’s rugby union and
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