ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates the pattern of alcohol use in rugby players group of traditional field athletes to establish if it could potentially affect their sport participation. Rugby union is a mixed aerobic and anaerobic sport, with an emphasis on short bursts of intensive anaerobic. The players all require a base-line of aerobic fitness to ensure continuous play throughout the 80 minutes of a game. The results show that 94.4" of the rugby players and 96" of the referees drank alcohol; 48" of the players and 80" of the referees drank alcohol on the evening prior to engaging in a rugby match. A significant number drank on the evening prior to activity, thus potentially compromising their physiological function on match-day. Chronic alcohol use is associated with disease development; it may also be a factor in poor aerobic capacity by altering body composition. Traditional sports like Rugby Union should encourage a careful approach to the use of this beverage.
