PMID- 30208066 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20190219 LR - 20190320 IS - 1932-6203 (Electronic) IS - 1932-6203 (Linking) VI - 13 IP - 9 DP - 2018 TI - Relationships between physical qualities and key performance indicators during match-play in senior international rugby union players. PG - e0202811 LID - 10.1371/journal.pone.0202811 [doi] LID - e0202811 AB - The use of physical tests to profile physical capabilities, and provide training direction to athletes is common practice. Likewise, in professional team sports, notational analysis codes the key contributions of each player during competition. Limited studies have however investigated relationships between physical capabilities and key performance indicators (KPIs) of rugby union match-play. Elite professional players, categorised as forwards (n = 15) or backs (n = 14), from an international rugby union squad (n = 29) undertook assessments of isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), bilateral and unilateral countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps (DJ; from 40 and 20 cm, respectively), and assessment of acceleration (10 m), a 5 m weighted sled drive, and a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (Yo-Yo IRTL1). Game statistics of the same players from 92 matches (~23 matches per player) during the 2014-15 season were analysed for effort and performance-based metrics. For forwards, Yo-Yo IRTL1 correlated significantly with; number of tackles made (r = 0.717), first three players at a ruck in both attack (r = 0.568) and defence (r = 0.581), number of effective rucks (r = 0.630), total possessions (r = 0.522), passes made (r = 0.651), percentage of carries over the gainline (r = 0.610), effective ruck success (r = 0.600), tackle success (r = 0.540), and the number of turnovers made (r = 0.518). Drop jump performance in forwards was associated with; the number of clean breaks (r = 0.558), dominant collisions (r = 0.589), and offloads (r = 0.594). For backs, the sled-drive test correlated with; number of carries (r = -0.751), first three players at an attacking ruck (r = -0.613), effective attacking rucks (r = -0.584), number of dominant collisions (r = -0.792) and offloads (r = -0.814). Likewise, for backs, IMTP peak force was related to; the number of possessions (r = 0.793), passes made (r = 0.792), effective attacking ruck percentage (r = 0.628), and the number of offloads (r = 0.621) whilst relative peak force correlated with; the percentage of carries over the gainline (r = 0.533), percent tackle success (r = 0.603) and effective attacking ruck percentage (r = 0.584). Regression analyses highlighted that only a small number of variables (i.e., carries, tackles, attacking and defensive first three at ruck) returned practically achievable changes (<20%) in physical qualities. In spite of this, and while leaving scope identification of further physical and/or performance predictors, greater strength, power and intermittent running performance were positively related to match-derived KPIs during competition. This may provide a basis for better integrating the strategies used by physical and technical performance-focused coaching staff to improve key performance indicators, and thus match performance, of rugby union players. FAU - Cunningham, Daniel J AU - Cunningham DJ AD - Applied Sport Technology Exercise and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales. FAU - Shearer, David A AU - Shearer DA AD - School of Psychology and Therapeutic Studies, University of South Wales, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales. AD - Welsh Institute of Performance Science, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales. FAU - Drawer, Scott AU - Drawer S AD - Sky Performance Hub, Team Sky, Bath, England. FAU - Pollard, Ben AU - Pollard B AD - Saracens RFC, North London, London, England. FAU - Cook, Christian J AU - Cook CJ AD - Applied Sport Technology Exercise and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales. FAU - Bennett, Mark AU - Bennett M AD - The Rugby Football Union, Greater London, London, England. FAU - Russell, Mark AU - Russell M AD - School of Social and Health Sciences, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds, England. FAU - Kilduff, Liam P AU - Kilduff LP AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-9449-2293 AD - Applied Sport Technology Exercise and Medicine Research Centre (A-STEM), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales. AD - Welsh Institute of Performance Science, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales. LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't DEP - 20180912 PL - United States TA - PLoS One JT - PloS one JID - 101285081 SB - IM MH - Adult MH - Athletes MH - *Athletic Performance MH - Body Weight MH - Football MH - Humans MH - Male MH - *Physical Appearance, Body MH - Young Adult PMC - PMC6135371 COIS- We have the following interests. Scott Drawer, Mark Bennett and Ben Pollard are employed by The Rugby Football Union. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter our adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors. EDAT- 2018/09/13 06:00 MHDA- 2019/03/21 06:00 PMCR- 2018/09/12 CRDT- 2018/09/13 06:00 PHST- 2017/09/19 00:00 [received] PHST- 2018/08/09 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2018/09/13 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2018/09/13 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2019/03/21 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2018/09/12 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - PONE-D-17-34048 [pii] AID - 10.1371/journal.pone.0202811 [doi] PST - epublish SO - PLoS One. 2018 Sep 12;13(9):e0202811. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202811. eCollection 2018.