Table 2 Anthropometric, physiological characteristics and game skills of elite, sub-elite and non-rugby players by age category
| Under 19 (n = 108) | Under 16 (n = 100) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Elite (n = 41) | Sub-elite (n = 46) | Non-Rugby (n = 21) | Elite (n = 41) | Sub-Elite (n = 30) | Non-Rugby (n = 29) |
| Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| Anthropometrics | ||||||
| Body mass (kg) | 77.5 ± 9.58 | 75.9 ± 11.6 | 68.5 ± 9.47 | 63.7 ± 9.09 | 61.2 ± 15.5 | 56.1 ± 7.83 |
| Height (m) | 1.73 ± 0.06 | 1.72 ± 0.08 | 1.71 ± 0.06 | 1.67 ± 0.08 | 1.68 ± 0.08 | 1.66 ± 0.08 |
| Biceps (mm) | 6.71 ± 3.62 | 6.60 ± 3.14 | 6.57 ± 2.27 | 5.78 ± 1.70 | 6.64 ± 1.14 | 7.00 ± 3.91 |
| Triceps (mm) | 9.44 ± 2.95 | 9.83 ± 4.58 | 8.36 ± 2.69 | 9.85 ± 3.25 | 9.86 ± 1.94 | 10.8 ± 5.89 |
| Subscapular (mm) | 12.8 ± 2.74 | 13.5 ± 4.64 | 11.2 ± 2.64 | 10.9 ± 2.86 | 11.3 ± 2.70 | 12.5 ± 6.21 |
| Suprailiac (mm) | 8.93 ± 3.84 | 9.51 ± 3.93 | 9.52 ± 1.98 | 8.28 ± 2.97 | 8.90 ± 2.99 | 9.97 ± 5.46 |
| Abdomen (mm) | 11.4 ± 2.85 | 13.3 ± 5.90 | 11.8 ± 2.41 | 11.4 ± 4.51 | 12.6 ± 2.86 | 12.4 ± 6.34 |
| Thigh (mm) | 9.98 ± 2.48 | 11.0 ± 4.83 | 9.08 ± 2.00 | 10.7 ± 3.84 | 11.4 ± 2.29 | 11.7 ± 4.40 |
| Calf (mm) | 5.49 ± 1.03 | 6.11 ± 2.07 | 6.17 ± 1.29 | 6.49 ± 1.55 | 7.72 ± 1.17 | 7.73 ± 3.48 |
| Sum of 7 skinfolds (mm) | 64.7 ± 15.6 | 69.8 ± 24.4 | 62.7 ± 11.6 | 63.4 ± 17.1 | 68.4 ± 10.5 | 72.1 ± 33.1 |
| Physiological tests | ||||||
| 20 m speed (s) | 3.25 ± 0.17 | 3.36 ± 0.23α | 3.47 ± 0.25 | 3.50 ± 0.22 | 3.55 ± 0.22ƪ | 3.63 ± 0.24 |
| 40 m speed (s) | 5.60 ± 0.29 | 5.84 ± 0.40α | 6.10 ± 0.27 | 6.14 ± 0.46 | 6.20 ± 0.60ƪ | 6.47 ± 0.47 |
| L-run (s) | 6.21 ± 0.32 | 6.33 ± 0.33α | 6.43 ± 0.25 | 6.49 ± 0.34 | 6.62 ± 0.46ƪ | 6.67 ± 0.27 |
| Vertical jump (cm) | 47.8 ± 3.81 | 42.5 ± 3.84α | 44.4 ± 3.85 | 38.3 ± 2.38 | 34.9 ± 2.82 | 32.6 ± 4.12 |
| 2 kg medicine ball chest throw (m) | 9.23 ± 1.26 | 8.31 ± 1.18 | 7.18 ± 1.16 | 6.97 ± 0.64 | 5.91 ± 0.86 | 5.83 ± 0.86 |
| 60s Push Up (n) | 49.7 ± 9.97 | 43.9 ± 12.0 | 38.2 ± 6.50 | 38.4 ± 10.1 | 35.6 ± 8.90 | 32.6 ± 7.06 |
| Wall sit leg strength (s) | 146.0 ± 9.72 | 137.5 ± 21.7 | 132.6 ± 7.41 | 132.1 ± 6.61 | 123.3 ± 13.0 | 121.2 ± 23.0 |
| Yo-Yo IRT (m) | 1505.9 ± 75.8 | 1443.6 ± 259.1α | 1053.3 ± 148.8 | 1307.3 ± 228.6 | 1030.7 ± 269.6 | 897.9 ± 171.7 |
| 1RM back squat (kg) | 98.4 ± 14.8 | 89.5 ± 16.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Relative back squat (kg/kg−1) | 1.27 ± 0.04 | 1.17 ± 0.06 | – | – | – | – |
| 1RM bench press (kg) | 90.5 ± 16.4 | 80.6 ± 15.9 | – | – | – | – |
| Relative bench press (kg/kg−1) | 1.16 ± 0.08 | 1.06 ± 0.06 | – | – | – | – |
| RHIE 1st sprint test (s) | 10.2 ± 0.77 | 10.5 ± 0.81α | – | – | – | – |
| RHIE 2nd sprint test (s) | 13.0 ± 1.02 | 13.2 ± 0.96α | – | – | – | – |
| RHIE 3rd sprint test (s) | 16.1 ± 1.49 | 18.2 ± 1.64α | – | – | – | – |
| RHIE total sprint test (s) | 39.3 ± 2.96 | 41.9 ± 2.97α | – | – | – | – |
| Decrement in RHIE (s) | 5.92 ± 1.17 | 7.76 ± 1.31α | – | – | – | – |
| Rugby-specific tests | ||||||
| Tackling proficiency (%) | 87.9 ± 8.44 | 84.8 ± 8.16 | – | 83.0 ± 8.87 | 68.3 ± 7.94 | – |
| Passing ability (au) | 116.2 ± 2.13 | 113.0 ± 4.07 | – | 105.9 ± 4.86 | 104.7 ± 4.34 | – |
| Running-and-catching ability (au) | 74.0 ± 1.07 | 73.5 ± 1.35 | – | 71.7 ± 2.06 | 68.3 ± 2.56 | – |