The demands of a collision sport

On 27 August 1995, the International Rugby Board decided that rugby union was to become professional and bring the era of the amateur game to an end. Employment contracts would contain clauses that could dismiss players should they not adhere to their ‘job description’ and would often include the requirement to maintain acceptable standards of physical fitness. Heart rate is an immediate and accurate indication of work intensity, although its interpretation can result in errors, unless the influence of external variables is understood. Coaches invariably study the physical demands of rugby union in order to improve game performance and underpin training programmes. Evidence-based approaches to player preparation are now common in elite rugby, and athlete tracking has utilised accelerometers, global positioning systems, local positioning systems, and optical tracking systems. The professionalisation of Rugby Union in 1995 brought significant changes to the approach of players and coaches in their ambitions for success.