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Fitness Tests for Rugby League

As with most team sports, there are many components of fitness that are important for success. Aerobic fitness would be one of the most important attributes, closely followed by anaerobic fitness and running speed and agility. 

Fitness Component

example tests

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Aerobic Fitness

  • The shuttle run (beep) test would usually be the most appropriate test for testing a team.
  • You can find information on many other aerobic tests here.

Aerobic fitness is a very important component of fitness for rugby. 

Flexibility

Good hamstring flexibility is import for rugby players in running and for ball kicking skill. 

Strength and Power

Strength (and power tests) should also be done to determine strength levels and to monitor strength changes in conjunction with training programs. 

Speed

Maximum running speed and acceleration are very important in rugby. 

Body Fat

  • Body fat can be measured using the skinfold method. If this is not available, monitoring body weight changes would give an indication of body fat changes, assuming no change in muscle mass.

Excess body fat would affect the player's ability to move freely around the field, and the extra weight will increase fatigue during the game. 

Agility

  • An agility test in which the player has to make a turn of less than 45 degrees would be suitable, as no turns gretaer than this are made a speed during a game.

The ability to quickly change direction is important for rugby.