Skip to main content
Download PDF

Qualities or skills discriminating under 19 rugby players by playing standards: a comparative analysis of elite, sub-elite and non-rugby players using the SCRuM test battery

BMC Research Notes volume 12, Article number: 536 (2019) Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

Although schoolboy rugby is growing in popularity and played at different competitive levels in Zimbabwe, the influence of playing standard on qualities or skills of older male adolescent rugby players is unknown. Utilising a cross-sectional design, this study determined anthropometric, physiological characteristics and rugby-specific game skills defining elite under 19 (U19) schoolboy rugby players. Following development and subsequent assessment of test–retest reliability of School Clinical Rugby Measure (SCRuM) test battery, this study compared performance outcomes of elite rugby players (n = 41), sub-elite rugby players (n = 46) and non-rugby athletes (n = 26) to identify qualities or skills discriminating (i) elite from sub-elite and non-rugby players, and concomitantly (ii) sub-elite from non-rugby players.

Results

40 m speed test (p < 0.001, ES = 1.78) and 2 kg Medicine Ball Chest Throw test (p < 0.001, ES = 1.69) significantly discriminated elite U19 from sub-elite and non-rugby players. These tests further differentiated sub-elite from non-rugby athletes. Additionally, 1RM back squat (p = 0.009, ES = 0.57), 1RM bench press (p = 0.005, ES = 0.61), repeated high-intensity exercise test (p < 0.001, ES = 0.88) and passing ability test (p < 0.001, ES = 0.99) discriminated elite from sub-elite counterparts. These findings highlight important attributes linked to elite U19 schoolboy rugby in Zimbabwe. However, no significant differences were observed for sum of seven skinfold (p = 0.28), tackling (p = 0.08) and catching ability (p = 0.05).

Introduction

Lately, research examining characteristics of schoolboy rugby union (RU) players has increased [1,2,3,4]. This has been necessitated by expanding participation rates in a combative sport known for high injury risk and match/training volumes [2, 5,6,7,8,9,10]. Moreover, the reported high physical and technical demands of adolescent RU [1, 5] require junior players to have optimal qualities or technical proficiencies for effective participation. Therefore, research defining key attributes important in competitive schoolboy RU is warranted especially in Zimbabwe where schoolboy RU is emerging and played at different competitive levels [11, 12]. Such evidence has implications on talent identification (TID) and long-term player development [13].

To understand player attributes important in RU, previous studies compared schoolboy RU players by playing standards at U13 [14], U16 [15] and U18 level [13, 16]. For most of these studies [14,15,16], the influence of playing standard was examined by comparing performance outcomes of elite adolescent RU players playing in two countries of different playing abilities. Observed differences between studies reflect differences in lifestyle, socio-economic, environmental, training philosophies, and TID initiatives among other factors. In contrast, Jones et al. [14] compared physical qualities of U18 RU players playing at different standards (academy rugby vs. school rugby) in England. The identified qualities differentiating academy from school-level RU players possibly suggest important variables contributing to a higher playing standard in U18 RU.

Given the important influence of increasing age in player characteristic development [17], U19s are an important group to target since they represent a group transitioning into senior professional rugby. To understand the attributes defining good U19 schoolboy rugby players, this study compared anthropometric and physiological characteristics across differing playing standards of elite, sub-elite and non-rugby players, and further compared rugby-specific game skills between elite and sub-elite RU players. It was hypothesised that test performances would improve significantly with increasing playing standards.

Main text

Study design, setting and participants

This study formed part of the School Clinical Rugby Measure (SCRuM) project described elsewhere [11, 12, 18] and was conducted in two sequential parts. Adopting a pragmatic “in-season” approach previously used by Enright et al. [19], the preliminary study established the absolute and relative reliability of each test item in the assembled SCRuM test battery. Forty-one elite U19 schoolboy rugby players completed all tests (Fig. 1) with 7 days separating test–retest assessments. The participants were recruited from one school based in Harare, Zimbabwe playing rugby in the Super Eight Schools Rugby League (SESRL). The SESRL is the most competitive schoolboy rugby league in Zimbabwe [20]. Participant testing commenced in third week from the inception of SESRL season in May 2018 (Additional file 1). Participants with self-reported injuries or any other health-related condition precluding participation in physical activity were excluded.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flow chart for participants enrolled in the preliminary test–retest reliability study. Parental documents entailed Adolescent Medical Health Questionnaires and Parental Information letters

Full size image

Utilising a cross-sectional design, the main study compared test performances of three groups of athletes. The study used baseline reliability data for elite players. Sub-elite participants were U19 male adolescent players (n = 46) recruited from a school playing in the Co-educational Schools Rugby League (CESRL). The CESRL represents a second-tier schoolboy rugby league [18]. Also, U19 schoolboy cricket players (n = 21) from one top cricket-playing school represented non-rugby athletes. The cricket players were included as a second comparative group composed of elite athletes playing a sport known to have differing physical and technical demands than rugby [21, 22]. This study was approved by University of Cape Town Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC: 016/2016). Written informed assent and consent were obtained from participants and parents respectively.

Procedures

All eligible athletes undertook assessments in the SCRuM test battery (Additional file 2). The rationale and processes of assembling the test battery and its subsequent evaluation of face, logical validity and practical feasibility have been described elsewhere [18]. Subsequently, test–retest reliability of each SCRuM test item was established in the preliminary study using elite U19 rugby participants. Before testing, all participants were familiarised to the test battery on 2 consecutive days. Baseline results for these players were compared to data obtained from U19 sub-elite and non-rugby players. Sub-elite rugby players were tested during mid-season of the CESRL (June 2018). However, all the testing for cricket players happened during cricket competitive season (September–November 2018). The order of testing was as indicated in Additional file 1.

Data analysis

Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS version 25.0. Shapiro–Wilk test assessed violations of normality (p < 0.05). Descriptive statistics (Mean ± SD) described parametric data. Relative reliability was determined using two-way random intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for absolute agreement on single measures (Additional file 3). ICCs above 0.7 were considered acceptable [23]. Tests with low ICCs and greater coefficient of variation (CV > 10%) [24, 25] were removed. One-way analysis of variance compared group means for each playing standard. However, when equality of variance assumption was violated as assessed by Levene’s test, Welch F test results were reported. In case of significant effects (p < 0.05), Scheffe’s posthoc test located the mean differences with equal variances assumed. Otherwise, the Games Howell test was used. Independent t test compared for statistical significance between two groups. The magnitude of the differences in group means were described with Cohen’s d effect size (ES) calculated as the difference between group means divided by the pooled standard deviation [26]. The interpretation of ES was as follows: < 0.2 trivial, 0.2–0.6 small, > 0.6–1.2 moderate and > 1.2 large [27, 28].

Results

Table 1 below shows group comparison for SCRuM test items.

Table 1 Group comparisons for demographic characteristics and SCRuM test items by playing standards
Full size table

Discussion

The 40 m speed and 2 kg MBCT tests effectively discriminated elite from both sub-elite and non-rugby players, and concomitantly differentiated sub-elite from non-rugby counterparts. Additionally, 1RM BS, 1RM BP, RHIE, and passing ability skill test differentiated elite from sub-elite rugby players. Collectively, these results suggest the importance of 40 m sprinting ability, upper-body muscular power, upper-and-lower body muscular strength, repeated high-intensity performance ability and passing ability in elite U19 adolescent rugby. Practically, these findings highlight to schoolboy rugby coaches the physiological characteristics and game skills important for training for attainment of “elite” status by sub-elite or non-rugby athletes.

This study showed that elite U19s had higher absolute and relative strength compared to sub-elite players. This was despite both groups reporting equal weekly exposure to supervised resistance training. However, it is unclear whether the content or structure of the resistance training was similar or different for both groups. Moreover, there were no significant differences in playing experience and maturity between groups dismissing possible influence of biological growth and different playing experience in accounting for strength differences. Jones et al. [13] compared physical qualities of 55 U18 professional regional academy players and 129 U18 male school-level rugby players in England. Academy players recorded superior bench press values. Whether these results indicates preferable recruitment of physically stronger academy players or different strength and conditioning training practices between groups, the findings highlight the importance of upper-body muscular strength and emphasise the need for its regular training.

In the current study, elite rugby players had significantly higher 2 kg MBCT test scores compared to sub-elite and cricket players. These findings highlight the importance of muscular power development among sub-elite and potential rugby players aiming to play elite rugby. There is evidence supporting the discriminative ability of upper-body muscular power in rugby athletes of different playing abilities. For example, Till et al. [29] found significant differences in medicine ball throw distances between national and regional players in the U13 and U14 age categories. The national players representing higher-level rugby players had superior scores compared to the regional players.

Elite U19 rugby players had better 40 m speed test scores compared to sub-elite and non-rugby players. Additionally, there were meaningful ES differences between sub-elite and cricket players. These findings indicate that 40 m sprinting ability discriminates between playing levels. Hence, schoolboy rugby coaches need to implement and emphasise training strategies that maintain or maximise development of that quality especially for lower-level rugby athletes to realise elite status. However, it is unclear whether our findings suggest specialised 40 m speed training for the elite players or selection bias of players showing superior 40 m sprint abilities by schoolboy coaches in SESRL. Gabbett and Herzig [30] found contrasting results between U17 elite and sub-elite junior rugby league players. Population and sport differences could explain varied results. However, Jones et al. [13] found differences in 40 m speed test between the professional academy U18 rugby players and school-aged rugby players indicating differences in playing abilities.

Elite U19 rugby players performed significantly better on RHIE test compared to sub-elite players. These findings are expected, as the standard of rugby increases, the intensity and competitiveness increases resulting in frequent high-intensity sprinting, tackling and scrummaging episodes [31]. Gabbett [32] showed that U17 division one players engaged in more repeated high-intensity effort bouts than division three players. Depending on position, the RHIE test assesses player performance abilities on repeated sprinting, tackling and/or scrummaging facilitating understanding of physical fitness, anaerobic capacity and fatigue tolerance levels [33]. As such, elite U19 male adolescent rugby players in the present study could be highly anaerobically trained or have optimal physical fitness to tolerate match-play demands, and recover better from competition demands compared to sub-elite. Match success in rugby has been attributed to team performance on these short and repetitive high-intensity activities [34, 35]. Accordingly, the ability to intermittently engage in repeated high-intensity efforts with minimal fatigue interference should be an important attribute to train in schoolboy rugby players. However, no studies have evaluated performances of U19 schoolboy rugby players using the RHIE test. Future studies investigating the discriminative ability of RHIE test are warranted. However, it suffices to suggest for improved conditioning of sub-elite rugby athletes with regards to RHIE performance ability for the attainment of elite status in schoolboy rugby.

The present study showed that elite and sub-elite rugby players were similar in body mass and aerobic endurance but superior to non-rugby players. The lack of differences between rugby players probably suggest to the overall importance of prolonged high-intensity intermittent running ability and body mass in rugby much more than in cricket. Reportedly, rugby is a well-known high intensity, intermittent contact sport characterised by high-intensity sprints interspersed with tackles, rucks, mauls and scrums [36,37,38]. The present study findings align with previous studies conducted among older adolescent RU and rugby league players [13, 39,40,41]. Considering the physical nature of RU and the need to generate greater impact forces in collision activities, increased body size and aerobic fitness are advantageous qualities for rugby than cricket players [5, 36, 37].

Tackling proficiency and catching ability tests failed to differentiate elite from sub-elite players. However, elites had greater passing ability compared to sub-elites. This provides support for use of passing ability test for assessing playing ability in U19 schoolboy rugby. Lack of differences for tackling and catching probably emphasise the importance of these skills to the overall sport of rugby regardless of playing standard. Tackling proficiency in rugby has been related to match success [42, 43]. Consistently, Gabbett et al. [44] showed that catching and tackling skills were similar among first, second and third grade rugby league players. However, passing significantly separated first from third grade players. In contrast, Gabbett et al. [39] showed large ES differences between junior elite and sub-elite rugby players for tackling proficiency. Methodological, population and sport differences between studies could explain discordant results. In the latter study, tackling was evaluated based on technical criteria with six elements. The present study modified the criteria and had 10 items.

Limitations

Although this study advances research on attributes defining good U19 rugby players, it is not without limitations.

  1. i.

    The cross-sectional nature of the study lacked analysis over an extended period of time [45]. This design fails to consider the dynamic nature of player development possibly narrowing the usefulness of the data for TID [46].

  2. ii.

    Although the novel element of this study entailed investigating SCRuM test items ability to differentiate between playing standards, one school was conveniently-selected to represent each U19 playing standard. This limits the external validity of study results to other schools and age-categories.

  3. iii.

    The groups were tested at different phases of their respective seasons resulting in differences in training and competition exposure across playing standards.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to the fact that the data is part of ongoing research. However, the data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

CESRL:

co-educational School Rugby League

CV:

coefficient of variation

CI:

confidence interval

ES:

effect size

ICC:

intraclass correlation coefficient

LoA:

limits of agreement

2 kg MBCT:

2 kg medicine ball chest throw

1RM BP:

one repetition maximum bench press

1RM BS:

one repetition maximum back squat

RHIE:

repeated high intensity exercise

SEM:

standard error of measurement

SESRL:

Super Eight School Rugby League

SCRuM:

School Clinical Rugby Measure

SD:

standard deviation

SDC:

smallest detectable change

SKF:

skinfolds

SR:

Sit and Reach test

TID:

talent identification

U:

under

VJ:

vertical jump test

WSLS:

wall sit leg strength test

Yo:

Yo IRT L1-Yo–Yo intermittent recovery test level 1

References

  1. Read DB, Jones B, Phibbs PJ, Roe GAB, Darrall-Jones J, Weakley JS, et al. The physical characteristics of match-play and academy rugby union. J Sports Sci. 2018;36(6):645–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Leung FT, Smith-Franettovich MM, Hides JA. Injuries in Australian school-level rugby union. J Sports Sci. 2017;35(21):2088–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Durandt J, Green M, Masimla H, Lambert M. Changes in body mass, stature and BMI in South Africa elite U18 Rugby players from different racial groups from 2002–2012. J Sports Sci. 2018;36(5):477–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lombard WP, Durandt JJ, Masimla H, Green M, Lambert M. Changes in body size and physical characteristics of South African under-20 rugby union players over a 13-year period. J Strength Cond Res. 2015;29(4):980–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hartwig T, Naughton G, Searl J. Motion analyses of adolescent rugby union players: a comparison of training and game demands. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(4):966–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Maxwell JP, Visek AJ. Unsanctioned aggression in rugby union: relationships among aggressiveness, anger, athletic identity, and professionalization. Aggress Behav. 2009;35(3):237–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Viviers PL, Viljoen JT, Derman W. A review of a decade of rugby union injury epidemiology: 2007–2017. Sports Health. 2018;10(3):223–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Boufous S, Finch C, Bauman A. Parental safety concerns- a barrier to sport and physical activity in children? Aust N Z J Public Health. 2004;28(5):482–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hartwig TB, Gabbett TJ, Naughton G, Duncan C, Harries S, Perry N. Training and match volume and injury in adolescents playing multiple contact team sports: a prospective cohort study. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2019;29:469–75.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Phibbs PJ, Jones B, Read DB, Roe GAB, Darrall-Jones J, Weakley JS, et al. The appropriateness of training exposures for match play preparation in adolescent schoolboy and academy rugby union players. J Sports Sci. 2018;36(6):704–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chiwaridzo M, Ferguson G, Smits-Engelsman BCM. High-school adolescents’ motivation to rugby participation and selection criteria for inclusion in school rugby teams: coaches’ perspective (the SCRuM project). BMC Res Notes. 2019;12:103.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Chiwaridzo M, Munambah N, Oorschot S, Magume D, Dambi JM, Ferguson G, et al. Coaches perceptions on qualities defining good adolescent rugby players and are important for player recruitment in talent identification programs: the SCRuM project. BMC Res Notes. 2019;12:132.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Jones B, Weaving D, Tee J, Darrall-Jones J, Weakley J, Phibbs P. Bigger, stronger, faster, fitter: the differences in physical qualities of school and academy rugby union players. J Sports Sci. 2018;36(21):2399–404.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Spamer EJ, Winsley RJ. A comparative study of British and South African 12 yr old rugby players, in relation to game-specific, physical, motor and anthropometric variables. J Human Movem Stud. 2003;44(1):37–45.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Spamer EJ, du Plessis D, Kruger EH. Comparative characteristics of elite New Zealand and South African U/16 rugby players with reference to game specific skills, physical abilities and anthropometric data. S Afr J Sports Med. 2009;21(2):53–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Spamer EJ, Winsley RJ. Comparative characteristics of elite English and South African 18-year-old rugby-players with reference to game-specific skills, physical abilities and anthropometric data. J Hum Movem Stud. 2003;45(3):187–96.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Till K, Scantlebury S, Jones B. Anthropometrics and physical qualities of elite male youth rugby league players. Sports Med. 2017;47:2171–86.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Chiwaridzo M, Chandahwa D, Oorschot S, Tadyanemhandu C, Dambi JM, Ferguson G, et al. Logical validation and evaluation of practical feasibility for the SCRuM (School Clinical Rugby Measure) test battery developed for young adolescent rugby players in a resource-constrained environment. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0207307.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Enright K, Morton J, Iga J, Lothian D, Roberts S, Drust B. Reliability of “in-season” fitness assessments in youth elite soccer players: a working model for practitioners and coaches. J Sci Med Football. 2017;2(3):177–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Nemadire Z. Super 8 Rugby League. Herald. 2013. https://www.herald.co.zw/super-8-rugby-league/. Accessed 02 July 2019.

  21. Barrett BT, Flavell JC, Bennett SJ, Cruickshank AG, Mankowska A, Harris JM. Vision and visual history in elite/near-elite level cricketers and rugby-league players. Sports Med Open. 2017;3:39.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Noakes TD, Durandt JJ. Physiological requirements of cricket. J Sports Sci. 2000;18(12):919–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Terwee CB, Bot SDM, de Boer MR, Van der Windt DAWM, Knol DL, Dekker J, et al. Quality criteria were proposed for measurement properties of health status questionnaires. J Clin Epidemiol. 2007;60:34–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wright GA, Isaacson MI, Malecek DJ, Steffen JP. Development and assessment of reliability for a standing throw conditioning test for wrestlers. J Strength Cond Res. 2015;29(2):451–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Atkinson G, Nevill AM. Statistical methods of assessing measurement error (reliability) in variables relevant to sports medicine. Sports Med. 1998;26:217–38.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Green BS, Blake C, Caulfield BM. A valid field test protocol of linear speed and agility in rugby union. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(5):1256–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Hopkins W, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41:1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Martin V, Sanchez JS, Campillo RR, Nakamura FY, Skok OG. Validity of the RSA Random test for young soccer players. Int J Sports Med. 2018;39:813–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Till K, Cobley S, O’Hara J, Brightmore A, Cooke C, Chapman C. Using anthropometric and performance characteristics to predict selection in junior UK rugby league players. J Sci Med Sport. 2011;14(3):264–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Gabbett TJ, Herzig PJ. Physiological characteristics of junior elite and sub-elite rugby league players. Strength Cond Coach. 2004;12(2):1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Johnston RD, Gabbett TJ, Jenkins DG. Influence of playing standard and physical fitness on activity profiles and post-match fatigue during intensified junior rugby league competition. Sports Med Open. 2015;1:18.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Gabbett TJ. Influence of playing standard on the physical demands of junior rugby league tournament match-play. J Sci Med Sport. 2014;17:212–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Austin DJ, Gabbett TJ, Jenkins DG. Reliability and sensitivity of a repeated high intensity exercise performance test for rugby league and rugby union. J Strength Cond Res. 2013;27(4):1128–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Durandt J, du Toit S, Borresen J, Hew-Butler T, Masimla H, Jakoet I, et al. Fitness and body composition profiling of elite junior South African rugby players. S Afr J Sports Med. 2006;18(2):38–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Gabbett TJ, Jenkins DG, Abernethy B. Relationships between physiological, anthropometrics and skill qualities and playing performance in professional rugby league players. J Sports Sci. 2011;29(15):1655–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Venter RE, Opperman E, Opperman S. The use of Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices to assess movement demands and impacts in Under-19 rugby union match play. Afr J Phys Health Educ Recreat Dance. 2011;17(1):1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Vaz L, Figueira B, Goncalves B. Classifying youth rugby union players by training performances. Int J Perform Analy Sport. 2015;15(1):159–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Pienaar AE, Spamer MJ, Steyn HS. Identifying and developing rugby talent among 10-year-old boys: a practical model. J Sports Sci. 1998;16(8):691–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Gabbett TJ, Jenkins DG, Abernethy B. Physiological and anthropometric correlates of tackling ability in junior elite and subelite rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(11):2989–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Gabbett T. Influence of physiological characteristics on selection in a semi-professional first grade rugby league team: a case study. J Sports Sci. 2002;20:399–405.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Tredrea M, Descombe B, Sanctuary CE, Scanlan AT. The role of anthropometric, performance and psychological attributes in predicting selection into an elite development programme in older adolescent rugby league players. J Sports Sci. 2017;35(19):1897–903.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Hendricks S, Lambert M, Masimla H, Durandt J. Measuring skill in rugby union and rugby league as part of the standard team testing battery. Int J Sport Sci Coach. 2015;10(5):949–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Hendricks S, den Hollander S, Tam N, Brown J, Lambert M. The relationships between rugby players’ tackle training attitudes and behaviour and their match tackle attitudes and behaviour. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2015;1:e000046.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Gabbett T, Kelly J, Pezet T. Relationship between physical fitness and playing ability in rugby league players. J Strength Cond Res. 2007;21(4):1126–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Tribolet R, Bennett KJM, Watsford ML, Fransen J. A multidimensional approach to talent identification and selection in high-level youth Australian football players. J Sports Sci. 2018;36(22):2537–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Till K, Morley D, Jones BL, Chapman C, Beggs CB, et al. A retrospective longitudinal analysis of anthropometric and physical qualities that associate with adult career attainment in junior rugby league players. J Sci Med Sport. 2017;20:1029–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all the high school male adolescent rugby and cricket players who participated in this study. Part of the training of the research assistants involved using physiotherapy students from the University Of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences (UZCHS). We are grateful for their support. The lead author would like to thank all research assistants who collected part or whole data on this project including Mr Sander Oorschot, Mr Takura Matare, Miss Sharmaine Chizanga, Mr Intelligent Ndlovu, Mr Malan Chitevuka, and Mr Mike Chiwaridzo. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the headmasters, school sports directors, and rugby coaches provided permissions to access schools. Further, we would like extend our gratitude to the parents and guardians who gave informed consents for their child to participate in the study. Also, the authors would like to thank rugby expert coaches who rated the participants on game-specific skills, anthropometrist who performed the skinfold measures, former U19 adolescent rugby players used as “dummy” players for the assessment of game specific skills, and content experts for validating the data collection instruments. Lastly, the first author acknowledges the mentoring and research training on quantitative research designs and statistical analysis received from UZCHS PERFECT (Promoting Excellence in Research and Faculty Enhanced Career Training) program. The lead author was under the mentorship of Professor James Hakim (Physician, UZCHS department of medicine) and Mrs Farayi Kaseke (Physiotherapist, UZCHS department of rehabilitation). The PERFECT program is supported by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number D43TW010137.

Funding

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    M. Chiwaridzo, G. D. Ferguson & B. C. M. Smits-Engelsman

Authors
  1. M. Chiwaridzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. D. Ferguson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. C. M. Smits-Engelsman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

MC, BCM and GF originally developed the concept and design of the study. MC is a doctoral student at UCT and this manuscript is part of his doctoral thesis. MC acted as the lead investigator under the guidance, mentorship and supervision of BCM and GF. MC conducted the literature review, recruited and trained research assistants and participants with variable assistance coming from other people who were acknowledged in the acknowledgment section. MC supervised the data collection. MC drafted the manuscript for publication and acted as the corresponding author. BCM and GF performed critical revision of the manuscript, statistical input, and provided extensive revisions prior to submission to the journal for review. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Chiwaridzo.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study adhered to guiding ethical principles under the Declaration of Helsinki. Institutional access and permission to conduct the study at the schools was obtained from Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Ref C/426/3), Harare Province Education Director Office, and from the respective school headmasters of the three schools involved in the study. Ethical approval was sought and granted by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of the University of Cape Town (Ref: 016/2016) and, locally from Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (Ref: MRCZ/A/2070) since the study was conducted in Zimbabwe. Participants provided written informed assent prior to participation following verbal explanations and reading of information letters explaining the study rationale and all procedural issues regarding the study. Parents provided written informed consent allowing their child to participate in the study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable as the manuscript does not contain any data from any individual person.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Additional file 1.

Order of the SCRuM tests performed during test–retest reliability study and subsequent studies testing rugby and cricket players.

Additional file 2.

The SCRuM test battery.

Additional file 3.

Results for intraclass correlation coefficient, coefficient of variation, smallest detectable change, and limits of agreement for the SCRuM test items.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chiwaridzo, M., Ferguson, G.D. & Smits-Engelsman, B.C.M. Qualities or skills discriminating under 19 rugby players by playing standards: a comparative analysis of elite, sub-elite and non-rugby players using the SCRuM test battery. BMC Res Notes 12, 536 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4563-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4563-y

Keywords

BMC Research Notes

ISSN: 1756-0500

Contact us