Coaches, practitioners and medical staff working in the worldwide sport of rugby will frequently apply scientific principles to their programmes to inform the practice, performance, health, well-being and development of their athletes. This book explores the scientific principles underpinning the preparation and management of rugby players in both codes and modified versions of the sport. Applied examples are also provided throughout to understand the practical application of the material in a real-world context. This new edition of The Science of Rugby offers a significant contribution to the field of rugby science that will act as a useful resource to scientists, coaches, practitioners and students interested in rugby. New chapters and key topics include: Physical and psychological preparation for rugby Planning and monitoring of training Managing fatigue, recovery and nutrition Effects of different environmental conditions and travel on performance The mechanics of rugby techniques and injury Young players and talent identification Considerations for training the female rugby player Modified rugby, including rugby sevens, touch, tag and wheelchair rugby No other book bridges the gap between theory and applied practice in rugby, from grass roots to elite international standard, and therefore this is essential reading for any student, researcher, sport scientist, coach, physiotherapist or clinician with an interest in the game.

This book links the increasingly important science behind the training and recovery of rugby players with easy to understand and practical examples of how this knowledge can be implemented on the training field or in the gym. The book is unique in the way that it outlines simple tools and techniques to improve rugby player performance. The book covers the latest scientific evidence on common training practices and theories and sums up their practical use for rugby players. The book will be an invaluable resource for those interested in the scientific training approach to team sport players including coaches, strength and conditioning personnel, physiotherapists, and sport doctors along with students and sports enthusiasts. In addition, while the practical examples used in the book are specific to rugby players, the scientific knowledge within the book would be useful to many athletes and coaches thereby increasing the scope of the book to many sports.

Over the last 20 years the professionalization of both codes of rugby (league and union) has led to increasing demands on players. The Science of Sport: Rugby provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the science behind preparing for performance in rugby. Using key scientific research and practical applications, the book offers an insight into how science can inform practice to improve player performance. The authors contributing to this book are world leading in their respective fields, ranging from academics researching rugby performance to practitioners delivering this information within the professional game. This new book covers: movement and physiological demands; fitness testing; fatigue and recovery; nutrition; strength and conditioning; injury rehabilitation; decision-making; skill assessments; young rugby players; talent identification and development; referees and finally, coaching planning and practice. This book bridges the gap between theory and practical application and includes forewords by Sir Ian McGeechan, OBE, Kevin Sinfield, MBE and Jamie Peacock, MBE. Illustrated with 38 colour images and diagrams.

The Science of Rugby is the only book to examine the scientific principles underpinning the preparation of rugby players for high performance. Drawing on the very latest scientific evidence, and covering both codes (union and league), the book explores every aspect of preparation and performance that introduces best practice by leading coaches and sports science professionals from around the rugby world. The book covers key topics such as: Physical preparation and conditioning Strength and power training Monitoring match and training demands Match-day strategies for enhancing physical and technical performance Management of fatigue and recovery Training and playing in the heat Travel and jet lag Injury epidemiology Psychological preparation Performance analysis Biomechanics Nutrition Talent identification and youth development The book also incorporates several case-studies to demonstrate how scientific principles have been applied in practice. No other book bridges the gap between theory and applied practice in rugby, from grass roots to elite international standard, and therefore this is essential reading for any student, researcher, sport scientist, coach, physiotherapist or clinician with an interest in the game.

Leinster is one of the most successful and influential Irish sporting teams of all time. The team boasts a dazzling roster of players, past and present, including Brian O’Driscoll, Johnny Sexton, Jamie Heaslip and current captain James Ryan. But there is so much more to rugby in Leinster, and, for the first time, this book compiles the rich history of the sport in the province, from its origins in the school and university teams, through the amateur years, with the growth of clubs throughout the province, to the dawn of the professional age and the many spectacular championships won by the province in the twenty-first century, when the national love for rugby kicked up a gear. Doolin celebrates all the breathless victories enjoyed by Leinster teams at every level, but it’s not just about the silverware. He looks at the challenges that rugby faced in surviving and growing province-wide since it was first played in Dublin in the nineteenth century. He also ruminates on the sport’s relationships with politics and class, which reflect the complexities of politics and identity in Ireland as a whole. A History of Rugby in Leinster is a vibrant celebration of sport-ing greatness and of Leinster’s enduring commitment to teamwork, integrity and community.

Youth Rugby provides a summary of the latest and most up-to-date research evidence in relation to developing the youth rugby player. The book provides an overview of the latest scientific research for key topics related to the youth rugby player across the codes of rugby (union, league and 7’s; mainly league and union in youth players) whilst also summarising the quality of the evidence available and the limitations of this research and highlighting key future research directions. The book covers a range of fundamental scientific topics relating to paediatric exercise science, human physiology, youth athletic development and high-performance sport. Each author is an experienced researcher within their respective discipline related to the youth rugby player. The book includes chapters on: • Long-term athletic development, growth and maturation, talent identification and the physical demands of youth rugby training and match-play. • Physical characteristics and the current evidence behind training methods to promote desired physical qualities. • Fatigue and recovery, the tackle, psychosocial development, nutrition and injury prevalence and prevention. This text is essential reading for all scientists, students and applied researchers wanting to develop world-class, evidence-based programmes for their youth athletes.

Enhance your existing business tools, practices, acumen and performance by understanding and capturing the conversations that shape business and innovation. International author, business and project process administration specialist Katrina Wilson has been actively sought after by universities, professors, businesses and thought leaders on developing innovative and functional systems and process solutions. Founder and creator of the RUGBY Mindset & Quality Review, Katrina shares valuable knowledge for anyone seeking to develop a fresh approach to fortifying their existing business practices and fundamentals to ensure agility, growth, profit and most importantly responsible, accountable, engaged, informed and happy employees. The RUGBY Mindset and Quality Review assists business stakeholders to: - Lead and develop your people: Using a framework to shape conversations and decisions which have an achievable outcome in your business; - Empower others: To contribute within a framework that supports people to deliver measurable and timely results; - Breakdown silos: By encouraging transparent and symbiotic relationships across your business that are actively promoted by your employees; - Adapt and change: Develop review processes that are relevant to your business and that effectively deliver on your continual improvement business agenda; - Drive strategic results: Improve your business outcomes and processes by engaging your workforce in an operational cadence, review and action; - Reinvigorate your workforce: Shift bystander apathy towards a growth mindset by recognising responsibilities, accountabilitites and contributions; - Translate to profit: How a RUGBY business approach will help you redefine your business baseline, transform your workforce and translate to profit. Develop and maintain a lean and focussed business with an innovative approach to total quality review, process and management.

The Young Rugby Player: Science and Application provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of the recent research behind the preparation, development and performance of the young rugby player. Each chapter concludes with key take-home messages and practical applications demonstrating how practitioners can provide evidence-informed delivery with the young rugby athlete. The book highlights how research and science can inform practice including coaching, sport science, player development and performance with the young rugby player. Each author is a world leader within their respective discipline including academics and practitioners who research and practice across youth rugby. The book includes chapters on: • Introducing the young rugby player, including topics related to growth and maturation, talent identification and development and understanding the demands of youth rugby. • Understanding and developing the young rugby player, including topics related to physical, psycho-social, technical and tactical development, alongside training practices and fatigue and recovery. • Other hot topics including nutrition, injury, concussion and injury prevention and the female young rugby player. This text is vital reading for all coaches, sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches and all academics with an interest in the science and practical application of working with the young rugby player.