RESUMEN
Introduction: The study aimed to interpret the evolution of the physical performance of rugby sevens and rugby union French international players from 2009 to 2020. Methods: 631 players from the French national teams were divided into three groups: forwards, backs and sevens. The performances evaluated were anthropometric characteristics, strength tests (1 RM bench press and 1 RM pull-up), aerobic capacity (YoYo IR1 test) and speed tests (10 m, 20 m and 50 m). The best performance of each player over a two-year period was kept for the analysis. Fluctuations were observed across the decade. Results: The anthropometric characteristics of female rugby sevens players tend to be taller and lighter than rugby union players. In rugby sevens, a moderate increase in maximal aerobic capacity was observed while sprint performances remained similar. Improvements in height and weight were observed over the last 10 years in rugby union players with a difference between the position. A moderate increase in sprinting performances and strength were observed both in backs and forwards. Discussion: The overall improvement of strength and conditioning performances and anthropometrical evolution reflects the rugby environment characterized by the arrival of professional contracts and the structuration process of the clubs which allows a better quality of training and easier access to the infrastructures of the very high level.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Using a mixed-method approach, this investigation aimed to examine athletes' sleeping patterns along with the socio-physiological acute and chronic stressors affecting their sleep. METHODS: Fifteen elite athletes (M age = 21.7 years; SD = 2.2) were monitored daily during a typical in-season training period (20 ± 1 days) and completed individual semi-structured interviews. Their sleep was analyzed using actigraphy and sleep diaries. A content analysis method was used to assess qualitative interviews. RESULTS: Three factors influencing sleep emerged from the qualitative interview analyses, i.e., sleep environment, training and study requirements. Half the athletes (8/15) complained about their sleeping environment with noise and/or bedroom temperature and/or mattress quality and/or light exposure presented as an issue. "Complainers" notably exhibited impaired (p < 0.05) sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset compared with "non-complainers." Daily training load showed correlations (p < 0.05) with wake after sleep onset and sleep onset latency. "Student athletes" exhibited later bedtime and earlier wake-up time compared with "non-student athletes," leading to a reduced total sleep time (6:50 ± 1:13 vs. 7:06 ± 0:53; p < 0.05; d = 0.20). CONCLUSION: An individualized assessment of sleep using actigraphy and interviews, with consideration to various socio-physiological factors, is recommended. Individualized sleep interventions with consideration to physiological (e.g., training load), behavioral (e.g., screen use) and environmental factors (e.g., room temperature, noise, mattress), can then be provided to each athlete.
