Physical fitness of elite women's rugby union players over a ...

stride length like a track sprinter (Duthie et al., 2003). Rugby players tend to run with a
closed, slightly slouched upper body posture with a significantly forward lean (to drive hard
and protect possession) with the foot landing forward of the centre of gravity (to brace for
impact or provide breaking force for change in direction), as compared to track athletes who
run more upright and with feet landing under the centre of gravity (Sayers, 2000). Attacking
players often have to sprint while carrying a ball which has the potential to reduce their arm
drive, an important characteristic of sprinting. A study has shown that players can sprint
fastest without the ball, while running with the ball under one arm is slower and running with
the ball in both hands is the slowest (Grant et al., 2003). The negative effect of slowing down
while holding the ball in both hands, has to be weighed up against the advantages of being
able to distribute the ball more efficiently when the need arises.
2.4.5 Agility
At present, there is no consensus among sport scientists for a clear definition of agility,
although most practitioners classify agility as any movement involving rapid change(s) of
direction (Bloomfield, Ackland & Elliot, 1994). In a more recent publication by Sheppard and
Young (2006), agility is defined as a rapid, whole body, change of direction or speed in
response to a sport specific stimulus.
Several researchers have advocated the use of agility tests on rugby union players such as
Illinois agility run (Durandt et al., 2006), 505 test (Ellis et al., 2000), Agility run (Quarrie et
al., 1995) and T-test (van Gent & Spamer, 2005). Although these studies reflect the time
difference within positional groups (backs and forwards), there is no significant difference
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