Table 4 Summary of high-speed running (HSR) and sprinting in age-grade rugby matches

Cunningham et al. [35]

40 rugby union U20 international players.

HSR > 5.0 ms⁻¹

Overall mean—284.2 ± 134.9 m

Front row—211.6 ± 112.7 m

Second row—265.3 ± 94.2 m

Back row—359.7 ± 142.7 m

Sprints

Overall mean—0.11 ± 0.05 m.min⁻¹

Front row—0.09 ± 0.04 m.min⁻¹

Second row—0.10 ± 0.03 m.min⁻¹

Back row—0.14 ± 0.05 m.min⁻¹

HSR > 5.0 ms⁻¹

Overall mean 656.9 ± 182.7 m

Half back—476.1 ± 204.1 m

Midfield—661.7 ± 145.1 m

Back three—728.4 ± 150.2

Sprints

Overall mean—0.26 ± 0.07 m.min⁻¹

Half back—0.18 ± 0.06 m.min⁻¹

Midfield—0.27 ± 0.06 m.min⁻¹

Back three—0.29 ± 0.06 m.min⁻¹

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

3.2 ± 1.5 m.min⁻¹

Sprints

0.11 ± 0.05 m.min⁻¹

HSR > 5.0 ms⁻¹

7.3 ± 2.1 m.min⁻¹

Sprints

0.26 ± 0.07 m.min⁻¹

Flanagan et al. [44]

42 rugby union U20 international players across two teams.

HSR absolute > 5.5 ms⁻¹

Prop—44 ± 42 m

Hooker—88 ± 88 m

Second row—55 ± 66 m

Back row—153 ± 65 m

HSR Individual

Prop—100 ± 58 m

Hooker—104 ± 60 m

Second row—85 ± 76 m

Back row—212 ± 99 m

HSR absolute > 5.5 ms⁻¹

Scrum half—191 ± 80 m

Outhalf—123 ± 29 m

Centre—363 ± 120 m

Back three—514 ± 153 m

HSR Individual

Scrum H = half—318 ± 300 m

Outhalf—118 ± 31 m

Centre—277 ± 159 m

Back three—296 ± 99 m

Hartwig et al. [24]

118 rugby union players aged between 14 and 18 years.

Striding 3.3–5.8 ms⁻¹

3.6 ± 3.5%

Sprinting > 5.8 ms⁻¹

0.9 ± 2.1%

Striding 3.3–5.8 ms⁻¹

3.1 ± 1.8%

Sprinting > 5.8 ms⁻¹

1.3 ± 0.8%

Phibbs et al. [56]

61 adolescent schoolboy and academy rugby union players.

HSR > 61% maximal sprint speed (m)

Schoolboy—138 ± 114 m

Academy—220 ± 111 m

VHSR > 90% maximal sprint speed (m)

Schoolboy—0 ± 1 m

Academy—5 ± 10 m

HSR > 61% maximal sprint speed (m)

Schoolboy—359 ± 182 m

Academy—280 ± 96 m

VHSR > 90% maximal sprint speed (m)

Schoolboy—19 ± 24 m

Academy—15 ± 15 m

Read et al. [37]

96 rugby union players (U16, U18 and university).

Striding 3.33–5.83 ms⁻¹

U16—993 ± 295 m

U18—995 ± 370 m

University—1112 ± 442 m

Sprinting > 5.83 ms⁻¹

U16—87 ± 86 m

U18—94 ± 93 m

University—64 ± 65 m

Striding 3.33–5.83 ms⁻¹

U16—843 ± 342 m

U18—1009 ± 444 m

University—1460 ± 357 m

Sprinting > 5.83 ms⁻¹

U16—165 ± 101 m

U18—319 ± 176 m

University—353 ± 147 m

Roe et al. [38]

14 rugby union academy players.

No positions stated in results for HSR

Jogging 20–50% Vmax

2215 ± 461 m

Striding 51–80% Vmax

663 ± 238 m

Sprinting 81–95% Vmax

41 ± 40 m

Venter et al. [25]

17 semi-professional rugby union U19 players.

Striding 50–79% Vmax

Front row—9.58 ± 4.59%

Back row—6.04 ± 1.83%

Sprinting 80–95% Vmax

Front row—0.42 ± 0.22%

Back row—0.42 ± 0.12%

Maximum sprint > 95% Vmax

Front row—0.06 ± 0.01%

Back row—0.05 ± 0.02%

Striding 50–79% Vmax

Inside backs—6.22 ± 3.67%

Outside backs—2.84 ± 0.45%

Sprinting 80–95% Vmax

Inside backs—0.66 ± 0.26%

Outside backs—1.05 ± 1.15%

Maximum sprint > 95% Vmax

Inside backs—0.06 ± 0.04%

Outside backs—0.06 ± 0.04%