ABSTRACT

The quantification of the technical, tactical and physical demands of match-play in youth rugby is important for the appropriate prescription of training practices. Differences in the demands of match-play have been identified between positions, playing standards, age grades and phases-of-play. This chapter presents the research that has explored the physical and technical-tactical match demands of youth rugby. The chapter then provides a practical overview of how practitioners can utilise match-demands data to assist in appropriate training prescription through the adaptation, manipulation and evaluation of training drills and practices. The chapter concludes with a range of recommendations and practical implications for the use of match-play data within youth rugby environments.