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Real-World Fatigue Testing in Professional Rugby Union: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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Abstract

Background

Professional rugby union is a high-intensity contact sport with position-specific high training and match volumes across a season that may lead to periods of fatigue if above a typically experienced threshold. This study assesses the influence of match play and/or training on fatigue levels in rugby union players.

Objective

We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of measures used to assess fatigue status in male professional rugby union players.

Methods

Using electronic databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and MEDLINE), a systematic review of fatigue testing in rugby union was conducted on (1) neuromuscular, (2) subjective self-report, (3) biochemical, and (4) heart rate-derived measures.

Results

Thirty-seven articles were included in this systematic review, of which 14 were further included in a meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis revealed small, yet not significant, decreases in countermovement jump height immediately after (effect size [ES] =  − 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI] − 0.64 to 0.06), 24 h (ES =  − 0.43; 95% CI − 3.99 to 3.21), and 48 h (ES =  − 0.22; 95% CI − 0.47 to 0.02) after exposure to rugby union match play or training. Reported wellness (ES =  − 0.33; 95% CI − 1.70 to 1.04) and tiredness (ES =  − 0.14; 95% CI − 1.30 to 1.03) declined over a period of a few weeks (however, the results were not-statistically significant), meanwhile muscle soreness increased (ES = 0.91; 95% CI 0.06 to 1.75) within the 96 h after the exposure to rugby union match play or training. Finally, while cortisol levels (ES = 1.87; 95% CI − 1.54 to 5.29) increased, testosterone declined (ES =  − 1.54; 95% CI − 7.16 to 4.08) within the 24 h after the exposure. However, these results were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Subjective measures of muscle soreness can be used to assess fatigue after match play and training in rugby union players. Within-study and between-study variability for countermovement jump height, biochemical markers, and heart rate-derived measures means the utility (practical application) of these measures to assess fatigue in professional rugby union players after matches and training is unclear.

Clinical Trial Registration

PROSPERO ID: CRD42020216706.

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Availability of data and material

The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

Code availability will be provided upon email request to the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kitman Labs, Dublin, Ireland

    Adam Grainger

  2. Institute of Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Adam Grainger & Giampiero Tarantino

  3. University of Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester, UK

    Paul Comfort

  4. Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia

    Paul Comfort

  5. Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

    Craig Twist

  6. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK

    Shane M. Heffernan

Authors
  1. Adam Grainger
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  2. Paul Comfort
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  3. Craig Twist
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  4. Shane M. Heffernan
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  5. Giampiero Tarantino
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Contributions

AG conceived the paper. AG and GT designed and performed the work. SMH, CT and PC performed the work and contributed to the manuscript writing tasks (alongside assisting in the manuscript revisions). GT performed the analyses.

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Correspondence to Adam Grainger.

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Grainger, A., Comfort, P., Twist, C. et al. Real-World Fatigue Testing in Professional Rugby Union: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Med 54, 855–874 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01973-3

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