From former Hawks top gun James Adams
Programme Leader in Sport Development
University of the West of Scotland

UWS RESEARCH QUESTIONS CURRENT APPROACH TO RUGBY COACHING
05 March 2010
Research undertaken by University of the West of Scotland (UWS) questions the current coaching methods in rugby union and highlights the need for different position-specific agility and speed training strategies.
The research, a collaboration between UWS and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), investigated agility performance of rugby players using various intensity running tests and the extent to which differences exist in terms of agility performance between playing positions.
The study involved nineteen players competing in the Welsh Rugby Union Division 5 East League competition who underwent a series of agility and sprint related training programmes over a competitive season. The tests themselves included validated running procedures that investigated a wide range of rugby specific speed profiles, different measures of agility and both fitness and recovery dynamics.
Recent law changes aimed at increasing the appeal of rugby has resulted in fewer scrums and the ‘ball in play time’ being increased significantly. Although there remain obvious positions-specific roles, there has been a shift towards a blend of roles.
The backline player’s traditional requirements of speed, direction change at pace, adept handling skills, and set move execution remain unchanged. There is, however, an increased requirement for additional strength in securing ball at breakdown situations and backing up the forwards in this role in order to secure possession. The forwards’ short duration and high intensity competition for ball control in contact situations must now also incorporate more running with the ball in open play along with the development of more adept handling and agility skills.
The purpose of this study was to investigate different running tests that simulate movement patterns of the modern-day rugby player, including the physical components of agility, which are most relevant to rugby performance, in combination with single sprint tests, which indicate a player’s speed capacity.
Current coaching techniques in rugby have seen a move towards team-wide running and agility training, however results of this study showed backs had strong correlations with different running tests and agility, whereas forward players had poor correlations. These findings indicate that despite current training methods being beneficial to backline players, a different approach to training is required to improve speed and agility of forwards.
This research was headed-up by Professor Julien Baker, Head of University of the West of Scotland’s Exercise and Health Sciences Research Unit, who has over 20 years’ exercise and sports research experience.
Professor Baker is a member of the WRU elite performance group, a role that sees him provide consultation on rugby preparation, physiological assessment, muscle damage, performance analysis, immune function and hormonal control. In addition, in 1989 Professor Baker was part of a team that worked with the British and Irish Lions on the development of a high intensity exercise protocol that was both measurable and accurate in relation to performance analysis at high altitude.
Commenting on the research Julien Baker said: “Clearly in the modern game there is a need for all positions to share core skills and one of the most important in breaking down defences is speed and agility. In recent years there has been a move in rugby coaching towards implementing the same sprint and agility training regimes for both backs and forwards.
“However our research clearly indicates that this approach is ineffectual and there is a need to develop position-specific training to enhance speed and agility across all 15 players, in the team that reflect positional defensive and attacking roles. Players with poor agility performance require additional, specialised, speed and change of direction speed training to improve their physical qualities.”

This article was posted on 8-Mar-2010, 11:13 by Hugh Barrow.