Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/a-1403-2906
Body Mass and Body Composition Changes over 7 Years in a Male Professional Rugby Union Team
Funding: Financial support was provided to the primary author for the completion of this research in the form of funds provided by the University as part of the PhD Candidature. These funds were used for the undertaking of this study, with no finances directly received by the primary author or any other author.![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/sportsmed/202113/lookinside/thumbnails/8662_10-1055-a-1403-2906-1.jpg)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate longitudinal body mass and body composition changes in one professional rugby union team (n=123), (i) according to position [forwards (n=58) versus backs (n=65)], analysis of players with 6 consecutive seasons of DXA scans (n=21) and, (iii) to examine differences by playing status [academy and international], over 7 years. Players [mean age: 26.8 y, body mass index: 28.9+kg.m2] received DXA scans at fourtime points within each year. A modest (but non-significant) increase in mean total mass (0.8 kg) for professional players was reflected by increased lean mass and reduced body fat mass. At all-time points, forwards had a significantly greater total mass, lean mass and body fat percentage compared to backs (p<0.05). Academy players demonstrated increased total and lean mass and decreased body fat percentage over the first 3 years of senior rugby, although this was not significant. Senior and academy international players had greater lean mass and lower body fat percentage (p<0.05) than non-international counterparts. Despite modest increases in total mass; reflected by increased lean mass and reduced fat mass, no significant changes in body mass or body composition, irrespective of playing position were apparent over 7 years.
Publication History
Received: 21 October 2020
Accepted: 22 February 2021
Article published online:
30 April 2021
© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
-
References
- 1 Jones B, Till K, Barlow M. et al. Anthropometric and three-compartment body composition differences between super league and championship rugby league players: considerations for the 2015 season and beyond. PLoS One 2015; 10: e0133188 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133188
- 2 Lees MJ, Oldroyd B, Jones B. et al. Three-compartment body composition changes in professional rugby union players over one competitive season: A team and individualized approach. J Clin Densitom 2017; 20: 50-57 doi:10.1016/j.jocd.2016.04.010
- 3 Cronin JB, Hansen KT. Strength and power predictors of sports speed. J Strength Cond Res 2005; 19: 349-357
- 4 Georgeson EC, Weeks BK, McLellan C. et al. Seasonal change in bone, muscle and fat in professional rugby league players and its relationship to injury: a cohort study. BMJ Open 2012; 2: e001400 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001400
- 5 Harley JA, Hind K, O'hara JP. Three-compartment body composition changes in elite rugby league players during a super league season, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25: 1024-1029 doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cc21fb
- 6 Morehen JC, Routledge HE, Twist C. et al. Position specific differences in the anthropometric characteristics of elite European Super League rugby players. Eur J Sport Sci 2015; 15: 523-529 doi:10.1080/17461391.2014.997802
- 7 Jones B, Till K, Roe G. et al. Six-year body composition change in male elite senior rugby league players. J Sports Sci 2018; 36: 266-271 doi:10.1080/02640414.2017.1300313
- 8 Hill NE, Rilstone S, Stacey MJ. et al. Changes in northern hemisphere male international rugby union players’ body mass and height between 1955 and 2015. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2018; 4: e000459
- 9 Tucker RLS, Davies P. et al Trends in player body mass at men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups: a plateau in body mass and differences in emerging rugby nations. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2021; 7: e000885 doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000885
- 10 Noel MB, Vanheest JL, Zaneteas P. et al. Body composition in Division I football players. J Strength Cond Res 2003; 17: 228-237
- 11 McHugh C, Hind K, Wyse J. et al. Increases in DXA-derived visceral fat across one season in professional rugby union players: importance of visceral fat monitoring in athlete body composition assessment. J Clin Densitom 2021; DOI: 10.1016/j.jocd.2020.09.001.
- 12 Gabbett TJ, Jenkins DG, Abernethy B. Relationships between physiological, anthropometric, and skill qualities and playing performance in professional rugby league players. J Sports Sci 2011; 29: 1655-1664 doi:10.1080/02640414.2011.610346
- 13 Till K, Cobley S, O’Hara J. et al. Using anthropometric and performance characteristics to predict selection in junior UK Rugby League players. J Sci Med Sport 2011; 14: 264-269 doi:10.1080/02640414.2011.610346
- 14 Withers R, Craig N, Bourdon P. et al. Relative body fat and anthropometric prediction of body density of male athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1987; 56: 191-200 doi:10.1007/BF00640643
- 15 Baker DG, Newton RU. Comparison of lower body strength, power, acceleration, speed, agility, and sprint momentum to describe and compare playing rank among professional rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 153-158 doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31815f9519
- 16 Gabbett TJ. Changes in physiological and anthropometric characteristics of rugby league players during a competitive season. J Strength Cond Res 2005; 19: 400-408 doi:10.1519/00124278-200505000-00027
- 17 Nana A, Slater GJ, Stewart AD. et al. Methodology review: using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for the assessment of body composition in athletes and active people. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2015; 25: 198-215 doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2013-0228
- 18 Fuller CW, Taylor AE, Brooks JH. et al. Changes in the stature, body mass and age of English professional rugby players: A 10-year review. J Sports Sci 2013; 31: 795-802 doi:10.1080/02640414.2012.753156
- 19 Harriss D, MacSween A, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2020 update. Int J Sports Med 2019; 40: 813-817
- 20 Systems GM. Lunar enCORE: Saftey and Specification Manual.. GE Medical Systems Lunar. Madison; USA: 2009
- 21 Santos DA, Dawson JA, Matias CN. et al. Reference values for body composition and anthropometric measurements in athletes. PLoS One 2014; 9: e97846 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0097846
- 22 Gallagher D, Heymsfield SB, Heo M. et al. Healthy percentage body fat ranges: an approach for developing guidelines based on body mass index. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 72: 694-701 doi:10.1093/ajcn/72.3.694
- 23 R Core Team. A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2012. URL: https://www.r-project.org/
- 24 RugbyPass. Heaviest players at 2019 Rugby World Cup revealed 2019 In Internet: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/heaviest-players-at-2019-rugby-world-cup-revealed/ accessed 10 August 2020
- 25 Olds T. The evolution of physique in male rugby union players in the twentieth century. J Sports Sci 2001; 19: 253-262 doi:10.1080/026404101750158312
- 26 West S, Starling L, Kemp SP. et al. Trends in match injury risk in professional male rugby union – a 16-season review of 10 851 match injuries in the English Premiership (2002-2019): The Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project. Br J Sports Med 2020 doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102529
- 27 Bell W, Evans W, Cobner D. et al. The regional placement of bone mineral mass, fat mass, and lean soft tissue mass in young adult Rugby Union players. Ergonomics 2005; 48: 1462-1472 doi:10.1080/00140130500101007
- 28 Till K, Jones B, O’Hara J. et al. Three-compartment body composition in academy and senior rugby league players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2016; 11: 191-196 doi:10.1123/ijspp.2015-0048
- 29 Björntorp P. Metabolic implications of body fat distribution. Diabetes Care 1991; 14: 1132-1143 doi:10.2337/diacare.14.12.1132
- 30 Scherrer U, Randin D, Tappy L. et al. Body fat and sympathetic nerve activity in healthy subjects. Circulation 1994; 89: 2634-2640 doi:10.1161/01.CIR.89.6.2634
- 31 Ackland TR, Lohman TG, Sundgot-Borgen J. et al. Current status of body composition assessment in sport. Sports Med 2012; 42: 227-249 doi:10.2165/11597140-000000000-00000
- 32 Roberts SP, Trewartha G, Higgitt RJ. et al. The physical demands of elite English rugby union. J Sports Sci 2008; 26: 825-833 doi:10.1080/02640410801942122
- 33 Austin D, Gabbett T, Jenkins D. The physical demands of Super 14 rugby union. J Sci Med Sport 2011; 14: 259-263 doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2011.01.003
- 34 Cahill N, Lamb K, Worsfold P. et al. The movement characteristics of English Premiership rugby union players. J Sports Sci 2013; 31: 229-237 doi:10.1080/02640414.2012.727456
- 35 Quarrie KL, Hopkins WG, Anthony MJ. et al. Positional demands of international rugby union: Evaluation of player actions and movements. J Sci Med Sport 2013; 16: 353-359 doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2012.08.005
- 36 Gabbett TJ. Science of rugby league football: a review. J Sports Sci 2005; 23: 961-976 doi:10.1080/02640410400023381
- 37 Lenz M, Richter T, Mühlhauser I. The morbidity and mortality associated with overweight and obesity in adulthood: A systematic review. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2009; 106: 641-648 doi:10.3238%2Farztebl.2009.0641
- 38 Hu FB, Willett WC, Li T. et al. Adiposity as compared with physical activity in predicting mortality among women. N Eng. J Med 2004; 351: 2694-2703 doi:10.1056/NEJMoa042135
- 39 Saunders PU, Pyne DB, Telford RD. et al. Factors affecting running economy in trained distance runners. Sports Med 2004; 34: 465-485 doi:10.2165/00007256-200434070-00005
- 40 Duthie GM. A framework for the physical development of elite rugby union players. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2006; 1: 2-13 doi:10.1123/ijspp.1.1.2
- 41 Higham D, Pyne D, Anson J. et al. Distribution of fat, non-osseous lean and bone mineral mass in international rugby union and rugby sevens players. Int J Sports Med 2014; 35: 575-582 doi:10.1055/s-0033-1355419
- 42 Malina RM, Bouchard C, Bar-Or O. Growth, Maturation, and Physical Activity. Human kinetics; 2004
- 43 Vänttinen T, Blomqvist M, Nyman K. et al. Changes in body composition, hormonal status, and physical fitness in 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old Finnish regional youth soccer players during a two-year follow-up. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25: 3342-3351 doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e318236d0c2
- 44 Till K, Jones B, Darrall-Jones J. et al. Longitudinal development of anthropometric and physical characteristics within academy rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res 2015; 29: 1713-1722 doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000000792
- 45 Malina RM. Body composition in athletes: assessment and estimated fatness. Clin Sports Med 2007; 26: 37-68 doi:10.1016/j.csm.2006.11.004