What Tests are Used to Assess the Physical Qualities of Male, Adolescent Rugby League Players? A Systematic Review of Testing Protocols and Reported Data Across Adolescent Age Groups

Carron, Michael A.; Scanlan, Aaron T.; Power, Cody J.; Doering, Thomas M.

doi:10.1186/s40798-023-00650-z

Sports Medicine - Open

Table 5 Aerobic capacity reported in male, adolescent rugby league players according to age group, playing level, and playing position

From: What Tests are Used to Assess the Physical Qualities of Male, Adolescent Rugby League Players? A Systematic Review of Testing Protocols and Reported Data Across Adolescent Age Groups

Study	Playing level	Position	Sample size (n)	Age (years)	Multistage Fitness Test predicted \(\dot{\mathrm{V}}\)O_2max (mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹)	Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test distance (m)
12 years of age
Gabbett et al. [1]^a	Academy	Forwards	13	12.5 ± 0.5	32.1 ± 4.1	–
	Academy	Backs	14	12.3 ± 0.5	36.2 ± 4.2	–
13 years of age
Gabbett et al. [48]	Academy	All	53	13.2 ± 0.6	39.9 ± 6.9
Gabbett et al. [1]^a	Academy	Forwards	7	13.5 ± 0.5	40.5 ± 5.4	–
	Academy	Backs	10	13.7 ± 0.4	40.8 ± 7.4	–
Till et al. [51]	Academy	All	207	13.6 ± 0.3	47.2 ± 4.8	–
Till et al. [45]	Elite^b	All	255	13.6 ± 0.3	46.4 ± 4.7	–
	Elite^c	All	130	13.7 ± 0.2	49.5 ± 3.7	–
Till et al. [39]	Amateur	All	50	13.6 ± 0.3	45.1 ± 4.8
	Academy	All	32	13.6 ± 0.2	47.3 ± 5.9
	Elite	All	13	13.6 ± 0.3	47.0 ± 4.6
Till et al. [8]	Amateur	All	249	13.6 ± 0.6	47.6 ± 5.6	–
	Academy	All	261	13.6 ± 0.6	49.6 ± 4.9	–
	Elite	All	70	13.8 ± 0.7	49.8 ± 4.6	–
Till et al. [50]	Amateur	All	NR	13.6 ± 0.2	54.5 ± 7.2	–
	Academy	All	NR	13.7 ± 0.1	47.7 ± 5.9	–
	Elite	All	NR	13.4 ± 0.3	48.6 ± 3.8	–
Till et al. [95]	Academy	All	NR	13.8 ± 0.1	48.6 ± 4.8	–
Till et al. [102]	Academy	All	NR	13.6 ± 0.2	47.9 ± 5.4
		Outside backs	NR	13.7 ± 0.2	50.8 ± 3.8
		Pivots	NR	13.5 ± 0.3	49.1 ± 3.7
		Props	NR	13.6 ± 0.2	42.4 ± 7.2
		Backs	NR	13.7 ± 0.2	47.4 ± 3.4
14 years of age
Gabbett et al. [47]	Academy	All	14	14.1 ± 0.2	43.3 ± 1.3	–
Gabbett et al. [1]^a	Academy	Forwards	11	14.5 ± 0.5	38.5 ± 4.5	–
	Academy	Backs	12	14.6 ± 0.5	41.4 ± 4.6	–
Till et al. [51]	Academy	All	226	14.6 ± 0.3	48.7 ± 5.4	–
Till et al. [45]	Elite^b	All	309	14.6 ± 0.3	48.7 ± 5.3	–
	Elite^c	All	86	14.6 ± 0.3	50.9 ± 3.9	–
Till et al. [50]	Amateur	All	NR	14.6 ± 0.2	45.7 ± 5.4	–
	Academy	All	NR	14.7 ± 0.1	51.8 ± 4.5	–
	Elite	All	NR	14.4 ± 0.3	50.6 ± 3.7	–
Till et al. [102]	Academy	All	NR	14.6 ± 0.2	50.1 ± 4.7
		Outside backs	NR	14.7 ± 0.2	51.8 ± 5.1
		Pivots	NR	14.5 ± 0.3	50.1 ± 3.8
		Props	NR	14.6 ± 0.2	46.2 ± 4.3
		Backs	NR	14.7 ± 0.2	50.8 ± 4.0
Till et al. [39]	Amateur	All	92	14.6 ± 0.3	47.0 ± 5.8
	Academy	All	85	14.6 ± 0.3	49.1 ± 5.0
	Elite	All	18	14.5 ± 0.3	49.3 ± 4.4
Till et al. [95]	Academy	All	NR	14.8 ± 0.1	50.6 ± 5.0	–
Till et al. [59]	Academy	All	31	NR^f	–	1027 ± 510
15 years of age
Waldron et al. [46]	Academy	All	13	15.1 ± 0.3	48.1 ± 3.4	–
Dobbin et al. [66]	Academy	All	235	15.1 ± 0.8	–	727 ± 252
	Academy	Wingers		15.1 ± 0.8	–	756 ± 248
	Academy	Centres		15.1 ± 0.8	–	742 ± 252
	Academy	Halves		15.1 ± 0.9	–	808 ± 232
	Academy	Hookers		15.1 ± 0.1	–	777 ± 335
	Academy	Props		15.1 ± 0.1	–	591 ± 249
	Academy	Back rowers		15.1 ± 0.1	–	702 ± 216
Gabbet et al. [48]	Academy	All	20	15.1 ± 0.6	41.5 ± 7.2	–
Waldron et al. [52]	Academy	All	21	15.1 ± 0.3	47.0 ± 2.1
Gabbett et al. [1]^a	Academy	Forwards	12	15.4 ± 0.9	42.9 ± 4.4	–
	Academy	Backs	9	15.4 ± 0.5	49.5 ± 4.0	–
Till et al. [51]	Academy	All	204	15.5 ± 0.3	50.9 ± 4.6	–
Tredrea et al. [60]	Academy	All	49	15.5 ± 0.6	44.8 ± 5.1	–
	Elite	All	51	15.5 ± 0.4	48.1 ± 5.2	–
Till et al. [45]	Elite^b	All	306	15.6 ± 0.3	50.6 ± 4.8	–
	Elite^c	All	86	15.6 ± 0.3	51.1 ± 3.6	–
Till et al. [102]	Academy	All	NR	15.6 ± 0.2	51.3 ± 4.6
		Outside backs	NR	15.7 ± 0.2	51.8 ± 4.6
		Pivots	NR	15.5 ± 0.3	52.3 ± 3.4
		Props	NR	15.6 ± 0.2	48.0 ± 5.0
		Backs	NR	15.7 ± 0.2	52.6 ± 4.1
Till et al. [39]	Amateur	All	107	15.6 ± 0.3	49.5 ± 5.1
	Academy	All	144	15.6 ± 0.3	51.2 ± 4.5
	Elite	All	39	15.5 ± 0.3	51.9 ± 3.8
Till et al. [50]	Amateur	All	NR	15.6 ± 0.2	47.9 ± 4.6	–
	Academy	All	NR	15.7 ± 0.1	52.2 ± 5.3	–
	Elite	All	NR	15.4 ± 0.3	53.7 ± 2.9	–
Till et al. [61]	Academy	All	35	15.7 ± 0.2	–	1372 ± 443
Till et al. [95]	Academy	All	NR	15.8 ± 0.1	50.6 ± 4.6	–
Gabbett et al. [14]^a	Academy	All	36	15.9 ± 0.6	43.3 ± 5.4	–
	Academy	Hit-up forwards		15.8 ± 0.7	42.1 ± 6.3	–
	Academy	Adjustables		15.7 ± 0.4	44.6 ± 5.6	–
	Academy	Outside backs^e		16.1 ± 0.7	43.4 ± 4.7	–
	Elite	All^e	28	16.0 ± 0.2	48.2 ± 4.6	–
	Elite	Hit-up forwards		15.9 ± 0.4	48.9 ± 4.1	–
	Elite	Adjustables^e		16.0 ± 0.2	48.1 ± 5.1	–
	Elite	Outside backs^e		16.0 ± 0.2	47.5 ± 4.6	–
Till et al. [96]	Academy	All	64		47.3 ± 3.4
		Forwards	37	NR^g	47.1 ± 3.7	–
		Backs	27	NR^g	47.5 ± 3.0	–
16 years of age
Waldron et al. [52]	Academy	All	21	16.2 ± 0.3	48.1 ± 3.9
Waldron et al. [46]	Academy	All	13	16.2 ± 0.3	48.3 ± 3.6	–
Gabbet et al. [48]	Academy	All	15	16.5 ± 0.3	43.9 ± 5.8	–
Till et al. [61]	Academy	All	44	16.7 ± 0.2	–	1475 ± 327
Gabbett et al. [47]	Academy	All	21	16.9 ± 0.3	43.4 ± 1.1	–
Gabbet et al. [49]	Academy	All	36	16.9 ± 0.6	46.3 ± 3.2
Till et al. [96]	Academy	All	46	NR^h	48.7 ± 2.8	–
		Forwards	27	NR^h	48.9 ± 3.2	–
	Academy	Backs	19	NR^h	48.5 ± 2.1	–
Till et al. [103]	Academy	All	37	NR^h	–	1436 ± 336
	Elite	All	13	NR^h	–	1553 ± 287
Till et al. [59]	Academy	All	75	NR^h	–	1234 ± 408
17 years of age
Waldron et al. [52]	Academy	All	15	17.0 ± 0.4	51.7 ± 3.8
Waldron et al. [46]	Academy	All	13	17.0 ± 0.3	52.2 ± 3.5	–
Dobbin et al. [62]	Academy	All	50	17.1 ± 1.1	–	766 ± 232
Dobbin et al. [42]	Academy	All	16	17.2 ± 0.7		638 ± 192
Pearce et al. [72]	Academy	All	52	17.2 ± 0.5	–	909 ± 313
Till et al. [97]	Academy	All	16	17.3 ± 0.7	–	1320 ± 242
Dobbin et al. [65]	Academy	All	197	17.4 ± 1.0		847 ± 205
		Back Row		17.5 ± 0.8		760 ± 188
		Centre		17.2 ± 0.9		845 ± 216
		Forward		17.3 ± 0.5		657 ± 108
		Full back		17.4 ± 0.9		957 ± 162
		Half Back		17.3 ± 1.1		933 ± 280
		Hooker		17.2 ± 1.2		1127 ± 187
		Loose Forward	17.5 ± 0.8		853 ± 278
		Prop		17.2 ± 0.9		665 ± 209
		Scrum Half		17.3 ± 1.4		954 ± 171
		Second Row		17.9 ± 1.4		826 ± 171
		Stand-Off		18.0 ± 0.6		749 ± 231
		Winger		17.4 ± 1.1		835 ± 264
Tredrea et al. [60]	Academy	All	41	17.4 ± 0.7	45.6 ± 4.9	–
	Elite	All	19	17.0 ± 0.7	47.9 ± 7.1	–
Dobbin et al. [66]^d	Elite	All	365	17.5 ± 2.0	–	775 ± 233
	Elite	Wingers		17.5 ± 2.0	–	773 ± 241
	Elite	Centres		17.5 ± 2.0	–	799 ± 226
	Elite	Halves		17.5 ± 2.1	–	871 ± 206
	Elite	Hookers		17.5 ± 2.2	–	960 ± 256
	Elite	Props		17.5 ± 2.3	–	615 ± 147
	Elite	Back rowers		17.5 ± 2.4	–	769 ± 215
Gabbett et al. [22]^d	Academy	Props	37	17.6 ± 2.4	42.2 ± 7.4	–
	Academy	Hookers	31	17.3 ± 1.1	46.9 ± 7.1	–
	Academy	Second rowers	36	17.2 ± 1.8	45.1 ± 6.7	–
	Academy	Locks^e	11	16.5 ± 1.5	44.6 ± 6.0	–
	Academy	Halfbacks^e	27	16.7 ± 1.5	50.5 ± 5.3	–
	Academy	Five eighths^e	11	16.7 ± 1.6	48.3 ± 6.1	–
	Academy	Centres	27	17.0 ± 2.3	47.1 ± 6.7	–
	Academy	Wings	39	17.7 ± 2.2	45.7 ± 6.2	–
	Academy	Fullbacks	21	17.4 ± 2.0	47.8 ± 5.2	–
Till et al. [61]	Academy	All	34	17.7 ± 0.3		1408 ± 281
Gabbett et al. [1]^a	Academy	Forwards	10	17.8 ± 0.8	43.9 ± 5.0	–
	Academy	Backs	12	17.3 ± 0.8	46.1 ± 6.0	–
Gabbett et al. [23]^a	Academy	All	36	17.9 ± 0.4	43.7 ± 12.6	–
Till et al. [96]	Academy	All	55		48.9 ± 2.9
		Forwards	31	NRⁱ	48.8 ± 3.3	–
		Backs	24	NRⁱ	49.1 ± 2.2	–
Till et al. [103]	Academy	All	41	NRⁱ	–	1464 ± 354
	Elite	All	19	NRⁱ	–	1535 ± 322
Till et al. [59]	Academy	All	64	NRⁱ	–	1223 ± 328
18 years of age
Till et al. [61]	Academy	All	16	18.7 ± 0.2	–	1353 ± 352
Pearce et al. [72]	Academy	All	53	18.9 ± 0.6	–	894 ± 369
Till et al. [96]	Academy	All	44		48.5 ± 2.9
		Forwards	25	NR^j	48.3 ± 3.2	–
	Academy	Backs	19	NR^j	48.9 ± 2.7	–
Till et al. [103]	Academy	All	30	NR^j	–	1475 ± 443
	Elite	All	19	NR^j	–	1443 ± 259

NR not reported, – not tested, All players combined across all positions
^aReported 95% confidence intervals, which were converted to standard deviation according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0
^bPlayers classified as elite by definition used in this review but as ‘regional’ by the authors
^cPlayers classified as elite by definition used in this review but as ‘national’ by the authors
^dTotal sample size (all positions combined) was reported rather than independently for each position
^eSample age reported across multiple years, and across various playing positions (data allocated according to weighted mean age)
^fAge provided categorically as under 14 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation
^gAge provided categorically as under 15 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation
^hAge provided categorically as under 16 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation
ⁱAge provided categorically as under 17 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation
^jAge provided categorically as under 18 years instead of being reported as mean ± standard deviation

Back to article page