ABSTRACT
An understanding of the complex demands of match-play is necessary in order to physically prepare players for rugby. Conditioning programmes should expose players to the most demanding passages of play; training for the average demands is likely to result in players being under-prepared for the ‘worst-case scenario’. This chapter discusses the match activity profiles of rugby, including the most extreme demands that players are likely to face during competition, and highlights the physical qualities that are necessary for competitive success.
