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

implication for players, coaches and sport scientists. The 5-m multiple shuttle repeat sprint
test (5-m RST) adopted by Welsh Rugby Union and modified by the Sport Science Institute of
South Africa is used to determine player’s match-related fitness (Boddington, Lambert,
Gibson, & Noakes, 2001). The test consists of six 30 seconds repeat sprint bouts, interspersed
with 35 seconds rest period. The participants performed 6 repeat shuttles of this protocol with
a 35-second rest between bouts. The peak distance (greatest distance covered during a 30s
shuttle), total distance (the total distance covered during the 6 x 30s shuttles), delta distance
(the difference between the longest and shortest shuttle distance and fatigue index are
recorded (Boddington et al., 2001). Factors determining success in the 5-m RST are
multifaceted, and performance is best predicted by a combination of factors including body
mass, strength and aerobic fitness. To cover a total distance in excess of 750m for the 5-m
RST requires good basic speed, the ability to run at a pace and accelerate, and excellent
aerobic system for a rapid recovery between runs (Hawley & Burke, 1998). Even though
deemed important by rugby researchers, there is limited normative data on rugby players.
2.5 CHANGES IN PHYSICAL FITNESS OF OVER A COMPETITION SEASON
Professional athletes perform concurrent physical and technical training throughout the season
in an attempt to elicit gains in many physical attributes required for optimal performance
(Argus, Gill, Keogh, Hopkins & Beaven, 2009).. Physical fitness can provide a coach and the
sport scientist with an objective and reproducible means of assessing an athlete/players
training status, physical strengths and performance capabilities (O'Gorman, Hunter,
McDonnacha, & Kirwan, 2000). Information gathered from these tests can assist the coaching
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