Rugby und seine Terminologie – für eine reibungslose Kommunikation im Fachgebiet Rugby wird in dieser Arbeit die grundlegende Terminologie der Sportart deskriptiv aufgearbeitet. Sprachmittler sollen dazu befähigt werden, Texte des Fachbereichs Rugby besser zu verstehen und die Terminologie des Sports korrekt anzuwenden. Eine Einführung in die Sportart gibt Überblick über Regeln und Spielabläufe. Die anschließende Auseinandersetzung mit theoretischer und praktischer Terminologiearbeit bereitet auf das Erstellen einer zweisprachigen Datenbank im SDL-Multiterm-Format vor. Der gesamte Prozess wird dabei dokumentiert: Rugbyspezifische Termini auf Englisch und Deutsch werden zunächst gesammelt und systematisiert, bevor sie zusammen mit anderen relevanten Informationen, wie Definitionen und Kontextbeispielen, in die erstellte Datenbank aufgenommen werden. Die Datenbank ist somit wesentlicher Bestandteil der vorliegenden Arbeit.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Johannesburg, 2019 / Rugby, as a contact sport, has inherent risks of injury. Children and adolescents playing rugby at schoolboy level have a developing skeletal system and therefore injuries through this age of play may result in injuries to under-developed bones. This research study looked to identify whether the laws of rugby align to protect skeletal development of children and adolescents through law adaptations. Framework Analysis was used to develop a matrix which aligned the adapted laws of rugby with bone fusion ages. In future studies this can be used as a base for other areas of development and other sports. This matrix was further analysed to determine a severity rating scale and this scale identified some bones of the skull (occipital, sphenoid and zygomatic), upper limb (scapular, glenoid and clavicle) and lower limb (sacrum and pelvic girdle) as having a higher risk for severe injury. While these bones are at severe potential risk of injury it is important to note that only one measure of maturation was used and in future additional measures of maturation should be used. In conclusion, while the adapted laws of rugby do protect some bones of the developing skeletal system, they do not protect all of the developing bones of the skeletal system. The matrix could be used to guide future law makers in their endeavour of making the game of rugby safer for children and adolescents / MT 2020

MSc Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009. / INTRODUCTION Rugby is a high impact sport with many injuries reported in the literature. A high rate of ankle injury is reported with resultant recurrence of these injuries. There is however only scarce epidemiological data with minimal detail to highlight clinical findings and prevalence of ankle injuries especially in the club rugby fraternity. AIMS This study investigated the prevalence of clinical signs of ankle injuries in rugby players at club rugby level in the South Gauteng region. The data collected was used to identify the clinical signs related to ankle instability for perceived, mechanical and functional parameters and was applied to determine the difference between players with and those without previous injury. METHODOLOGY The researcher obtained ethical clearance to do the study from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Witwatersrand. Permission was obtained from the Golden Lions Gauteng Rugby Union to use players in the South Gauteng region. One hundred and eighty players from nine clubs in the region participated in the study. Informed consent was obtained from all parties concerned and players were asked to complete a battery of tests. To determine the prevalence of clinical signs of perceived instability each player was asked to complete a data questionnaire and the Olerud and Molander questionnaire. The data questionnaire also included questions pertaining to the exclusion criteria. iii Objective testing was done to determine the clinical signs of mechanical instability of both ankles of each player through mechanical tests; the talar tilt and anterior drawer tests. Balance and proprioception were assessed through the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) which is used to indicate clinical signs of functional instability and these tests were used to determine the prevalence of clinical signs of functional instability and to relate the clinical signs of functional instability to the other clinical findings. RESULTS The prevalence of ankle injuries at club rugby level is discussed for the different parameters of instability. The prevalence of clinical signs of perceived instability based on the Olerud and Molander questionnaire is 47%, as reported by the player and is further described in a sub-analysis of perceived problems. The prevalence of clinical signs of mechanical ankle instability, when laterality is ignored is 38.7%. The prevalence of clinical signs of functional ankle instability depends on the surface and the visual input and is greater as the challenge or protuberance increases in difficulty. The clinical signs of perceived, mechanical and functional ankle instability are further described and related to other clinical findings for two groups, namely those with and those without previous injury to the ankle and as expected clinically significant differences were noted with the players with previous injury recording a higher prevalence for perceived and mechanical parameters. The odds ratios for the presence of certain clinical signs revealed significant p-values for the presence of pain, stiffness and swelling and the need for supports e.g. bracing or taping and the affect on activities of daily living. DISCUSSION In this study there is a high prevalence of clinical signs of ankle instability in club rugby players for perceived, mechanical and functional parameters, compared to the prevalence reported in the literature. From the study the clinical findings associated with the presentation of ankle injuries in club rugby players have been established and related to the perceived, mechanical and functional signs of instability. Differentiation between players with reported ankle injury and those without were also done and significant differences were noted between the two groups for perceived and mechanical parameters but where the functional assessment was done it supported the fact that balance and proprioception tests included the whole kinetic chain and does not view the ankle in isolation. It was evident that previously injured players were more likely to sustain future injury to the ankle and odds-ratios to support this showed an increased risk of the presence of swelling, stiffness and pain for players with previous injury and the greater need for the use of supports and influence on activities of daily life. The information gathered can be used in the future to set up a management plan for pre-season screening, assessing and addressing individual predisposing biomechanical factors, managing acute injuries successfully and rehabilitation in the post-season phase.

The importance of sports engineering has increased in the past decade as the demand for athletes and their equipment has increased. Similarly, the aerodynamics of blunt bodies such as prolate spheroids is of particular interest to aerodynamicists seeking to reduce drag. A system was developed to measure aerodynamic forces on rugby balls. The rugby balls, which varied in size and surface textures, were tested at multiple angles of attack, rotational rates, and wind tunnel velocities. A force balance utilizing load cells in conjunction with a subsonic wind tunnel was used to obtain lift and drag forces. A detailed description of the complete test apparatus is given including methods of mounting, rotation, calibration and tare measurements. Several methods of data acquisition were investigated and the final method is outlined. The results for two balls are given along with the variation in data from repeated testing. Both the force data trends and a few interesting phenomena are discussed.

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The purpose of this study was to describe the different methods used by coaches to improve decision making in ruby. The study included three coaches from the Western Cape area. Two of the three coaches worked with U/20A league teams and the third coach worked in the Super A league. Eight coaching sessions were video taped and analysed to identify the coaching method used when presenting skill development activities. The verbal behaviour each coach was also recorded. Five rugby games involving each of the teams were also analysed to determine which team had the highest success rates in key categories. The results showed that Coach 1 integrated decision making with skill practice primarily through the method of verbal feedback during sessions where he used a direct teaching style. His comments to players during technical skill instruction were focussed on linking their skill performance to its tactical use in a game. The other two coaches followed the expected pattern of using indirect teaching styles to teach players how to apply tactics. It was concluded that different coaches may use different teaching styles to improve players’ decision making. The belief that the direct style of coaching focuses on technical learning at the expense of tactical understanding may be false. Much more research needs to be completed on coaching methods before specific recommendations can be made to coaches about optimal approaches to balancing the demand for good tactical decision making and sound technical skill performance.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the business model of a professional South African Rugby Union by determining the core logic and practices of the Boland Rugby Union. Information was gathered mostly through semi-structured interviews conducted with board members of Boland Rugby. Additional information was gathered through observation, the media, the collection of relevant documents, as well as other secondary research methods. Boland Rugby, similar to most South African rugby provinces, has both an amateur and a professional arm. The study indicates that Boland Rugby Union offers a strong value proposition to its target segments focused on development and creating a platform for the different rugby codes to participate and develop. The professional arm is focused on providing the Boland Kavaliers with the necessary resources to compete against other provinces. Boland covers a wide geographical area and therefore a good structure is needed to make governance easier. Market limitations and especially financial resources create challenges towards creating a stronger commercial value. Therefore partnerships with local businesses are essential in providing the necessary value proposition. As shown by the literature review, there are strong links between the different business model components. An important finding was the co-creation that occurs continuously throughout the value creation process. Boland Rugby, its consumers, and all relevant stakeholders play an essential role in creating this value. The Osterwalder model used during the study acted as a good structure to capture the business activities. Looking forward, Boland Rugby will have to explore different business avenues through which they can create revenue and further develop their value offering. It was clear that there is a lack in strategic drive to meet a changing market environment, although the union finds itself in a comfortable position as their geographical area will remain theirs. Boland Rugby has financial challenges that accompany professional sport, and it requires a sustainable financial model with a clear strategy towards long-term objectives. The study recommendations indicate that a change towards professionalism is not necessarily the only option, and is not always well received within a structure that is built on an amateur approach. Depending on the future strategy going forward, commercial rationale will play a central role in future decision-making. One thing is certain, good governance and corporate values are necessary to increase the faith of stakeholders in the decision-making processes and leadership of Boland Rugby.

Plyometrics is primarily used by coaches and sport scientists to improve explosive power among athletes who participate in dynamic, high intensity type of sports. One of the plyometric-related training methods that has received attention in recent years, is loaded or resistance (resistive) jump training. Limited research does, however, exist with regard to the benefits and use of this training method as well as in conjunction with other training methods, especially among team sport participants. It is against this background that the research objectives of this study were firstly, to examine the effects of a 4-week combined rugby-conditioning and resisted jump training program compared to a combined rugby-conditioning and normal jump training program, on selected physical, motor ability and anthropometric components of university-level rugby players. The second objective was to examine the acute effects of a resisted compared to a normal jump training session on selected physical and motor ability components of university-level rugby players. Thirty rugby players (age: 19.60 ± 0.79 years) from the first and second u/19 and u/21 rugby teams of a university in South Africa were randomly selected to participate in the first part of study. For the second part of the study thirty senior rugby players (1st and 2nd senior teams) (age: 21.78 ± 1.86 years) of the Rugby Institute at a university in South Africa were randomly selected to participate in the study. For both studies the thirty players were in turn randomly divided into two groups of fifteen players each. One group formed the experimental and the other group the control group. The first objective was tested by subjecting the players to a 4-week combined sport-specific and resisted plyometric training program (experimental group) or a combined sport-specific and normal plyometric training program to investigate the adaptations of body composition, lower body flexibility, explosive leg power, speed, agility and leg strength. After a 10-week period (“wash-out period”) during which subjects continued with their normal rugby-conditioning program, the same testing procedures as before, were executed by following a crossover design. In order to test the second objective of the study players’ body weight and height were firstly measured after which they were subjected to a thorough warm-up, followed by the execution of the flexibility;Vertical Jump Test (VJT); 5-, 10- and 20 m speed tests; the Illinois Agility Run Test (IART) and the 6RM (repetition maximum) Smith Machine Squat Test (6RM-SMST). The experimental group was subject to the resisted jump training session on the Vertimax whereas the control group executed the same exercises on the floor. Directly after the training session each of the players again completed the test battery. After the first week, a crossover design was implemented. Although the overall study (independent t-test and main effect ANOVA) results of the first study suggested that the experimental group experienced more positive changes, especially with regard to the body fat, skeletal mass and somatotype-related anthropometric and flexibility-related measurements, only relaxed upper-arm girth, ectomorphy, left Active-straight-leg-raise-test and the left Modified Thomas Quadriceps Test values showed significant differences (p < 0.05) when the two groups of players were compared. Although the experimental group demonstrated significantly better average scores in the majority of the last-mentioned components, this group experienced a significantly higher reduction in relaxed upper-arm girth due to the conditioning program than the control group. The main effect ANOVA results of the acute study showed that no significant differences were obtained for any of the measured components between an acute resisted and normal jump training session. To conclude, the study revealed that a 4-week combined rugby-conditioning and resisted jump training program (experimental group) did not benefit university-level rugby players significantly more with regard to selected physical, motor ability and anthropometric components than a combined rugby-conditioning and normal jump training program (control group). Furthermore, despite the fact that the acute resisted and normal jump training exercises met all the requirements to produce post-activation potentiation, the study results showed that these exercise sessions did not lead to any significant acute changes in the physical and motor ability components of university-level rugby players. / MA (Sport Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Que se passe-t-il au cœur de la mêlée ? Si cette question se pose au néophyte, elle fait aussi débat au sein des institutions. Il s’agit à la fois de garantir la sécurité du joueur et d’assurer les conditions d’une mêlée performante. Notre questionnement est issu de notre pratique de joueuse de première ligne. La mêlée s’est avérée à la fois source de satisfaction et de douleur, de plaisir de l’impact et de peur de la blessure… ces ressentis évoluant au fur et à mesure de l’expérience construite. Si différentes recherches étudient la mêlée, les développements scientifiques se focalisent sur des facteurs anatomiques et biomécaniques de la blessure. En écho avec des préoccupations de la Fédération Française de Rugby, nous proposons une autre approche plaçant au centre le point de vue du joueur et ses pratiques effectives en mêlée. Une étude exploratoire menée auprès de cinq experts nous a permis d’entrevoir différentes conceptions de la performance en mêlée et d’envisager, au moins dans le discours, plusieurs modalités de pratique. S’est alors posée la question de la diversité des pratiques effectives et de ce qui les organise. Nous avons donc étudié ce qui se joue en mêlée pour un joueur de première ligne. Nous nous inscrivons dans une perspective énactive qui considère la vie, selon un processus d’autopoïèse, en tant qu’auto production et auto affirmation d’une identité produisant, par ses interactions, un soi cognitif et son monde adéquat. L’humain est considéré comme un complexe de micro-identités construites au sein de contextes socioculturels. Une philosophie des normes et des valeurs s’est avérée nécessaire pour envisager la manière dont s’expriment ces micro-identités et selon laquelle elles organisent les pratiques. Ceci nous a conduite à l’hypothèse d’une sensibilité à en tant que sens structurant, c’est-à-dire l’existence d’une norme prévalente assurant une orientation d’ensemble dominant les actes et les organisant à partir d’une valeur directrice. Pour documenter le sens de l’expérience, nous avons investigué la signification incarnée à partir de matériaux d’observation et d’entretiens d’autoconfrontation et en re-situ subjectif. Dix joueurs ont volontairement participé à l’étude : un d’entre eux évoluait en Fédérale 2 (catégorie C), les autres en Espoirs, Fédérale 1, Pro D2, Top 14 ou Top 10 (catégorie A).Nous avons identifié chez les joueurs de première ligne différentes sensibilités à : sensibilité à l’impact, au gain du ballon, à l’arbitrage de la mêlée, au duel individuel ou collectif, au fait d’avancer/ne pas reculer. Ainsi, plusieurs micro-mondes de pratique ont été mis à jour, révélant différentes modalités de la performance en mêlée. Ces dernières se sont parfois avérées en tension avec les attentes de l’entraîneur pour un poste donné et avec des consignes et exigences de sécurité. Ce travail a aussi permis de mettre à jour la complexité des jeux de norme. En effet, chez tous les joueurs, les normes qui organisent leur activité au cours de la mêlée sont plurielles, voire en débat : des normes plus contingentes ont été repérées. Enfin, une même sensibilité à particulière peut être de différentes natures : vitale, de devoir social ou d’exécution. En esquissant différentes sensibilités à, nos travaux proposent une nouvelle typologie des joueurs à risques et enrichissent les perspectives de prévention des blessures en mêlée. Les joueurs ayant des facteurs de risque importants paraissent être ceux pour qui la norme prévalente revêt un enjeu de viabilité identitaire ; ils prennent alors « inconsidérément » des risques démesurés pour leur intégrité physique ou celle des partenaires et adversaires, car leur micro-monde s’organise autour d’autres préoccupations qui font que ces risques restent largement inaperçus. / What exactly takes place in a scrum? Not only will a neophyte ask this question, but it will also be debated among various institutions. Making sure the player’s security and the conditions of a performing scrum are guaranteed is at the core of the question. This enquiry has been undertaken thanks to our front row rugby player practice. Playing in scrum has been an experience of both satisfaction and suffering, pleasure of impact and fear of injury... All this has, of course, evolved as experience was gained. The different studies concerning rugby scrums mostly focus on the anatomical and biomechanical aspects of injuries whereas, echoing the French Rugby Board’s concerns, we suggest another approach centered around the player’s point of view and his actual practice of scrum. An exploratory study made with five experts has allowed us to foresee different conceptions of performance in a scrum and to view different forms of practice. Then, the question of the diversity of actual practices and what organizes them was asked. This is why we have studied what is at stake in a scrum for a front line player.In order to document the meaning of this experience, we have investigated the embodied significance from materials of observation and interviews of auto-confrontation and in re-situ subjective. Ten players have voluntarily participated in the study: one of them played in Federal 2 (category C), the others in “Hopes”, Federal 1, Pro D2, Top14 or Top 10 (category A).Among front line players we have identified different sensibilities to: the sensibility to impact, to the fact of winning the ball, to scrum refereeing, to individual or collective duel, to the fact of moving forward / not backward. Thus, different practices have been revealed, showing different forms of performance in a scrum. The latter have sometimes been questioned by some coaches for a given post and with security instructions and requirements. This work has also allowedan enhancement of the complexity of normed games. It is true that, for any player, the norms that organize his activity in the mid of a scrum are diverse, sometimes even controversial: more contingent norms have been spotted. Finally, it has been demonstrated that the same specific sensibility to can actually be of different kinds.By outlining different sensibilities to, our workbrings a new typology of high risk players and allows new perspectives concerning the prevention of scrum injuries. As a matter of fact, those players tend to take disproportionate risks “thoughtlessly”, thus putting at risk their physical integrity or their partners’ or opponents ‘just because their micro-world is organized around concerns that make those risks largely unnoticed.

The principal aim of this study was to create longitudinal profiles (1988-2002) for the games of rugby union and rugby league football in order to identify whether changes in time, offence, defence and game action variables, and positional and game performance indicators were a reflection that the two codes of rugby were 'converging'. Anecdotal evidence had suggested that due to certain administrative developments within this time frame many facets of the two games were becoming similar, thereby spawning the notion of a future single, unified game of 'rugby'. This thesis presents the first empirical and objective assessment of whether such convergence has occurred. The data for this study were extracted from 48 video-taped recordings of First Grade rugby league and International rugby union in the Northern hemisphere over the specified time frame. The matches were identifiable by Era (pre-/post-professional) and Period (1988-92, 1993-95, 1997-99 and2000-02). Key aspects of play or performance were distinguished via game models and expert opinion and were scrutinised via a series of specifically designed and validated hand notation systems. Initial analysis considered (and established) the reliability of these systems, thereafter parametric and non-parametric inferential statistical teohniques were employed to identify Era and Period effects within each Code, with the additional analyses to consider the effects of Game Result and Game Quarter Outcomes. The findings from these analyses, particulaily the observed increase in ball in play time, changes at the ruck, maul, and lineout, and alterations in defence patterns of play, have provided a strong argument that the two Codes underwent a discernable degree of convergence over the years being considered. It was concluded that the introduction of professional playing status (rugby union), the summer playing season (rugby league), and law changes were likely causes of the two games being now similar in many respects. Although additional analyses should be encouraged to corroborate the present findings, the case for the development of a single Code of rugby can now be made.

A dissertação cria um panorama amplo da prática do rugby no Brasil abordando aspectos sociológicos e históricos da modalidade em território nacional com o objetivo de compreender a sua prática, características e dinâmicas na atualidade. A partir do referencial teórico de Bourdieu e Mauss, entre outros, o trabalho constrói uma história do rugby no Brasil, utilizando como base documentos e entrevistas. A dissertação procura demonstrar que o rugby, inicialmente praticado quase que só por jogadores estrangeiros, termina por ser apropriado pelos brasileiros criando uma identidade própria e servindo de ponte para a inclusão de estrangeiros que praticavam o rugby em seus países de origem / The dissertation creates a broad overview of the rugby practice in Brazil addressing sociological and historical aspects of the sport in the country in order to understand their practice, characteristics and dynamics today. From the theoretical framework of Bourdieu and Mauss, among others, the work builds a history of rugby in Brazil, using as base documents and interviews. The dissertation tries to demonstrate that rugby, initially practiced almost exclusively by foreign players, ends up being appropriated by Brazilian creating its own identity and serving as a bridge for the inclusion of foreigners who practiced rugby in their countries of origin