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Prior to rugby sevens being accepted as an Olympic sport in 2009, there was a scarcity of research examining the game. In recent years however, research investigating the performance aspects of the sport have grown substantially with a large increase in physiological performance research being published. There are however, gaps in strategic research, including tactical and skill proficiency within the game. This thesis examines the performance of international rugby sevens teams in order to identify tactical and technical elements that may promote future successful outcomes. This thesis consists of five separate but linked studies that analyse match performance from all international rugby sevens tournaments played throughout the 2014 calendar year. These combined studies will assist in answering the overall research question. The dynamic systems theory was the underpinning framework throughout this research. The dynamic systems theory aims at describing patterns, characterising their stability and identifying the changes between old and new patterns. Study 1 identified game variables associated with success in men’s and women’s rugby sevens. Results revealed differences between winning and losing teams in restarts, passing effectiveness, line breaks, missed tackles and tries scored. Winning women’s teams gained more possession from handling turnovers, utilised more quick lineouts, had less ineffective set lineouts, threw more passes and made more ball-jolting-tackles than losing women’s teams. Winning men’s teams utilised non-contested restarts more frequently, won a higher percentage of contested restarts, had more scrum feeds and made more effective tackles than losing men’s teams. It was identified that there are variables associated with success for both men’s and women’s teams and variables that are gender specific. These results are discussed in detail throughout the chapter. Whilst statistical analysis of games provide a set of variables associated with successful performance, the identification of perturbations has been associated with improved accuracy in predicting overall success in sport. For this reason Study 2 builds on the findings from Study 1 by discussing the concept of perturbations in rugby sevens and identifying the differences between winning and losing teams in the number of perturbations, line breaks, tries from perturbations and the percentage of perturbations converted into tries. Evasive footwork in the middle of the field was the most commonly occurring perturbation type. Variations were evident between game quarters and tries were associated with perturbations created closer to the attacking try line. It was identified that perturbations are associated with success for both men’s and women’s teams. Study 3 examined patterns of rucks in rugby sevens and the effects of phase momentum from various ruck locations. Situational coupling at the ruck were divided into four categories based on the location of players with the assumption that each ruck would consist of three attacking players. These were wide rucks; mid to wide rucks; mid rucks and “foiled” rucks for all other situations. Results concluded that positive phases are important for success in rugby sevens. Winning women’s teams had significantly more positive phases than losing teams, whilst losing men’s teams had significantly more neutral phases than winning teams. Situational coupling analysis identified that wide rucks were the most commonly formed ruck; and winning women’s teams used wide rucks to gain positive phase momentum whilst winning men used mid rucks for positive phase momentum. A higher numbers of passes was also associated with positive phase momentum. Maintaining possession of the ball is an essential component of rugby sevens. Each ruck is essentially an opportunity for the opposition to turn the ball over in their favour or disrupt the attacking team’s momentum. Further examination of the ruck in sevens led to the findings reported in Study 4. Results illustrated successful rucking actions and rucking technique. It was identified that the first arriving player to the ruck is a vital indicator for success. If the attacking team arrives first there is a greater chance of maintaining possession compared with the first arrival being from the defensive side. The number of players from each team was also examined, with a one versus one ruck most commonly formed. The ball placement method was evaluated with findings suggesting that the squeeze ball is a risky technique due to its association with turnovers and penalties against the attacking team while the wide place was associated with greater retention. The body position of the first arriving attacking player was also examined with the most successful position requiring the attacking player to lower their shoulders below the opposition shoulders. Following this attacking players should use the tackled player to support their weight and act as an anchor in the event of a counter ruck. Finally to reduce the impact of counter rucks attacking players should aim to ruck to a position past the ball rather than stopping with their bodies over the ball. Analysis of opposition actions identified that an early jackal was most successful at producing turnovers whilst a counter ruck was successful at producing penalties against the attacking team. Study 5 identifies the probabilities of what game actions lead to a try scoring phase. A finite state Markov chain style of analysis was used to identify probable patterns associated with scoring movements. Results identified that variations existed between game types (e.g. pool and finals games) and revealed the importance of effective transitioning between attack and defence, defence and attack and structured defence to unstructured defence. The findings of Study 5 could be applied practically to coaching, suggesting that coaches include opportunities to develop unstructured play within practice sessions. Improving unstructured play and developing effective transitional skills may enhance success in rugby sevens. The findings from this thesis are designed to provide us with a better understanding of successful performance in international men’s and women’s rugby sevens. Results identified match variables that separated winners from losers and also identified variations between men’s and women’s sevens performance. Perturbations were associated with successful performance. There was a significantly large number of perturbations created using evasion suggesting evasive skills are important for rugby sevens athletes to develop. Findings also identified patterns in ruck locations with wide rucks most commonly used despite midfield rucks having the highest association with positive phase momentum. Rucking actions have also been broken down to illustrate the most effective rucking technique. Attacking players should aim to be first to the ruck, lower their shoulders below opposition shoulders, use the tackled player to support their weight and ruck beyond the ball. Results are intended to assist coaches in their planning and preparation for tournaments. Findings can also assist aspiring players in focusing on the development of the identified attributes that coaches may deem important, such as evasive skills. From the combined research, this study also adds to the literature on rugby sevens by identifying aspects of the game that may previously have been overlooked. Finally this study may assist teams in achieving podium performance during international rugby sevens by utilising the research from the combined studies. |
