Table 3 Summary of high-speed running (HSR) and sprinting in senior rugby

Beard et al. [63]

188 rugby union players from the Pro12 and an international team.

Distance > 5.6 ms⁻¹

International front row—59 ± 54 m

Club front row—49 ± 54 m

International second row—161 ± 105 m

Club second row—103 ± 69 m

International back row—206 ± 110 m

Club back row—168 ± 102 m

Distance > 7.5 ms⁻¹

International front row—0.4 ± 2.3 m

Club front row—0.3 ± 2.0 m

International second row—3.2 ± 7.6 m

Club second row—2.1 ± 7.5 m

International back row—12.1 ± 20.5 m

Club back row—5.9 ± 13.1 m

Distance > 5.6 ms⁻¹

International half back—338 ± 121 m

Club half back—299 ± 123 m

International centre—455 ± 160 m

Club centre—376 ± 144 m

International outside back—577 ± 204 m

Club outside back—441 ± 143 m

Distance > 7.5 ms⁻¹

International half back—30.9 ± 31.0 m

Club half back—24.8 ± 28.3 m

International centre—34.3 ± 40.8 m

Club centre—29.4 ± 30.0 m

International outside back—101.7 ± 78.9 m

Club outside back—61.4 ± 48.5 m

Cahill [28]

120 professional rugby union players from the English Premiership.

51–80% Vmax

Median 860 m IQR 440 m

81–95% Vmax

Median 37 m IQR 64 m

96–100% Vmax

Median 0 m IQR 6 m

51–80% Vmax

Median 822 m IQR 338 m

81–95% Vmax

Median 50 m IQR 76 m

96–100% Vmax

Median 0 m IQR 8 m

Campbell et al. [52]

32 club rugby union players.

HSR > 5.5 ms⁻¹

Front row—78 ± 76 m

Seconds row—159 ± 124 m

Loose forwards –159 ± 124 m

Sprints

Front row—0.1 ± 0.07 m.min⁻¹

Seconds row—0.1 ± 0.08 m.min⁻¹

Loose forwards –0.2 ± 0.09 m.min⁻¹

HSR > 5.5 ms⁻¹

Half backs—244 ± 110 m

Centres—308 ± 152 m

Outside backs 400 ± 170 m

Sprints

Half backs—0.3 ± 0.09 m.min⁻¹

Centres—0.3 ± 0.07 m.min⁻¹

Outside backs 0.2 ± 0.09 m.min⁻¹

Coughlan et al. [23]

2 players (1 back and 1 forward) from an international team.

HSR 5–6.7 ms⁻¹

5.6%

Max speed running > 6.7 ms⁻¹

0.3%

HSR 5–6.7 ms⁻¹

7.5%

Max speed running > 6.7 ms⁻¹

1.6%

Cunningham et al. [36]

43 rugby union U20 international players and 27 elite professional senior players from an international performance squad.

HSR > 5.0 ms⁻¹

3.1 ± 1.6 m.min⁻¹

Sprints

0.11 ± 0.06 m.min⁻¹

HSR > 5.0 ms⁻¹

7.2 ± 2.1 m.min⁻¹

Sprints

0.25 ± 0.07 m.min⁻¹

Dubios et al. [4]

14 professional rugby union players from the French Top 14.

HSR > 4 5 ms⁻¹

397.2 ± 117.9 m

HSR > 4 5 ms⁻¹

537.1 ± 127.2

Jones et al. [30]

36 professional rugby union players.

HSR > 5 ms⁻¹

231 ± 167 m

Sprinting > 5.6 ms⁻¹

121 ± 112 m

HSR > 5 ms⁻¹

509 ± 150 m

Sprinting > 5.6 ms⁻¹

333 ± 122 m

Jones et al. (3§)

33 professional rugby union players from a Pro 12 team.

HSR 5–5.5 ms⁻¹

Tight forwards—81 ± 43 m

Loose forwards—140 ± 63 m

Sprinting > 5.6 ms⁻¹

Tight forwards—64 ± 46 m

Loose forwards—166 ± 116 m

HSR 5–5.5 ms⁻¹

Half backs—155 ± 71 m

Inside backs—209 ± 56 m

Outside backs—174 ± 52 m

Sprinting > 5.6 ms⁻¹

Half backs—226 ± 112 m

Inside backs—378 ± 149 m

Outside backs—392 ± 135 m

Lindsay et al. [32]

37 professional rugby union players from a Super Rugby squad.

HSR > 5.5 ms⁻¹

Front row—1.4 ± 1.1 m.min⁻¹

Locks—1.3 ± 0.8 m.min⁻¹

Loose forwards—5.3 ± 2.0 m.min⁻¹

Very HSR > 6.9 ms⁻¹

Front row—0.01 ± 0.01 m.min⁻¹

Locks—0.05 ± 0.01 m.min⁻¹

Loose forwards—0.61 ± 0.66 m.min⁻¹

HSR > 5.5 ms⁻¹

Inside backs—5.9 ± 2.6 m.min⁻¹

Outside backs—7.1 ± 2.0 m.min⁻¹

Very HSR > 6.9 ms⁻¹

Inside backs—0.75 ± 0.73 m.min⁻¹

Outside backs—2.14 ± 1.20 m.min⁻¹

Mclaren et al. [18]

28 professional rugby union players from the English Championship.

HSR 4.1–5.5 ms⁻¹

650 ± 160 m

Very HSR > 5.5 ms⁻¹

180 ± 110 m

HSR 4.1–5.5 ms⁻¹

770 ± 240 m

Very HSR > 5.5 ms⁻¹

400 ± 130 m

Pollard et al. [58]

22 players from an international rugby team.

HSR > 5 ms⁻¹

3.3 ± 1.5 m.min⁻¹

HSR > 5 ms⁻¹

7.8 ± 1.9 m.min⁻¹

Reardon et al. [34]

36 professional rugby union players from a Pro 12 team.

HSR absolute > 5 ms⁻¹

269 ± 172.02 m

Individualised HSR

354.72 ± 99.22 m

HSR absolute > 5 ms⁻¹

697.79 ± 198.11 m

Individualised HSR

570.02 ± 171.14 m

Reid et al. [29]

8 professional rugby union players from a Magners League team.

HSR 5.1–6.7 ms⁻¹

Loose head prop—260 m

Lock—134.7 m

Open side flanker—595.6 m

Max speed running > 6.7 ms⁻¹

Loose head prop—12.4 m

Lock—0 m

Open side flanker—84.2 m

HSR 5.1–6.7 ms⁻¹

Scrum half—645.9 m

Fly half—416.3 m

Inside centre—550.9 m

Wing—607.5 m

Full back—472.2 m

Max speed running > 6.7 ms⁻¹

Scrum half—57.4 m

Fly half—0 m

Inside centre—46.5 m

Wing—159.1 m

Full back—77.6 m

Suarez-Arrones et al. [26]

9 international rugby union players.

High intensity 5–5.5 ms⁻¹

Front row—75 ± 16 m

Back row—190 ± 34 m

Sprinting > 5.5 ms⁻¹

Front row—86 ± 39 m

Back row—232 ± 37 m

High intensity 5–5.5 ms⁻¹

Centres—292 ± 91 m

Scrums/out—252 ± 148 m

Sprinting > 5.5 ms⁻¹

Centres—633 ± 47 m

Scrums/out—292 ± 44 m

Tee et al. [67]

19 professional rugby union players from a South African rugby team.

HSR > 4 ms⁻¹

10 ± 4 m.min⁻¹

HSR > 4 ms⁻¹

12 ± 3 m.min⁻¹

Tee et al. [68]

19 professional rugby union players from a South African rugby team.

HSR > 4 ms⁻¹

11 ± 5 m.min⁻¹

HSR > 4 ms⁻¹

14 ± 4 m.min⁻¹