High Performance Services: Focus on Rugby

The rugby division of the Institute has been involved in the rugby development since the end of 1995, and has since tested and prescribed training programmes for over 2000 players. The programme has steadily grown and the HPC is now able to efficiently test, prescribe programmes and educate groups of up to 40 players. The importance of players having the right type of conditioning programs has become all the more evident with South Africa’s re-admittance to international competition.

For the fist two years after South Africa’s return to international competition our physical abilities were well below those of Australia and New Zealand. The reason for this is New Zealand and Australia introduced compulsory training for all national squad members in the off and pre- season periods of the season. All Players underwent fitness tests in the off-season and were re-tested eight weeks later in the pre–season. In addition to this players were required to attend compulsory weight training sessions. To solve the challenge of weight training in development areas and communities that can either not afford or access weight training equipment, the Institute, together with SARFU has developed a Mobile Team Training System, with access to weight training equipment possible to even the most remote of areas.

One of the most common question asked in training circles today is “is my team over trained or under trained?” The Institute, together with the University of Cape Town has come up with a novel way of showing this, through the use of the HIMS programme.

South Africa has followed this international trend with the rugby division of the Sport Science Institute playing a major role in this transformation. The South African Rugby Football Union has since introduced similar programmes for all its national teams and development squads.

The High Performance Centre has also been involved in assessing and prescribing programmes for the following rugby teams:

• Stormers 1999-2004
• SA U19 1998–present
• SA U21 1998-present
• SA (IRB) Sevens 2001-present
• Springbok Rugby Squad 1997-present

Having assessed in excess of 2700 players with a valid and reliable rugby specific fitness test battery, under standardized conditions, has allowed for the development of a massive database. As a result the HPC is in a position to make fitness recommendations to individual players that are:

• Specific to level of play
• Specific to position of play on the field
• Specific to the phase of the season