Book chapter
Rugby and the environment
The Science of rugby, pp.139-155
Routledge
2014
Metrics
14 Record Views
Abstract
Introduction Rugby is played in a wide range of environmental settings, ranging from the cool to cold conditions of winter in the north of England to the very warm humid conditions of Far North Queensland in Australia. This variability means that players can experience a range of environmental conditions across the entire playing season.
Professional and representative players of both rugby codes are required to cope with rapid changes in the environmental conditions brought about by extended national and international travel. It is commonplace for teams to train in one climatic zone and then travel to and play in a different one (in terms of the ambient conditions). For example, athletes based in Melbourne, Australia, will play their home games in very different ambient conditions in June to those they will experience when required to play regular competition games in completely different climate zones. Melbourne is classified as being in Australia's temperate zone and has a mean maximum temperature at 15:00 h in June (winter) of 13.7 degrees C with mean relative humidity (RH%) of 63%. If the team plays a scheduled match away in North Queensland, which is located in a tropical climate zone, the mean maximum temperature at 15:00 h in June will be 24.4 degrees C (RH% = 52%). Such variation in ambient conditions could place additional stress on players resulting in a negative impact on their performance.
Details
- Title
- Rugby and the environment
- Creators
- Rudi A Meir - Southern Cross University
- Contributors
- Craig Twist (Editor of compilation)Paul Worsfold (Editor of compilation)
- Publication Details
- The Science of rugby, pp.139-155
- Publisher
- Routledge; Abingdon, UK
- Identifiers
- 2873; 991012821138302368
- Academic Unit
- School of Health and Human Sciences
- Resource Type
- Book chapter