Rugby League: Training to meet the demands of the game

This literature review analysed the demands of a professional rugby league match. Furthermore, the physiological characteristics essential for meeting the demands of the game were scrutinized and current training methods were examined. A search of Google Scholar was performed to find the relevant peer reviewed articles. This review found that the demands of Rugby League are taxing on the anaerobic and aerobic energy systems and that repeated-sprint ability, strength, speed, agility, repeated-effort ability and aerobic power were all physiological characteristics which were essential to performance and meeting the demands of the game. Recent injury trends in rugby league were investigated and compared against other popular field sports. Current training practices such as the use of skills-based conditioning games, general conditioning and strength training utilising concurrent programming and not to failure training protocol were also investigated. Field-based training in preparation for a rugby league match should replicate the work-to-rest ratios and ball in play periods during intense periods of a match such as 13:1 and 4-6 minutes respectively. Field-based training should include repeated-efforts of sprinting, change of direction, collisions and tackling, to prepare for and meet the demands of a rugby league game. Focus needs to be placed on training for repeated high-intensity bouts interspersed with general aerobic conditioning. Strength training should utilise a not-to-failure protocol, with a mean lifting intensity of approximately 85% of repetition maximum.