RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCRUMMAGING STRENGTH AND STANDARD FIELD TESTS FOR POWER IN RUGBY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In the game of rugby, the development of leg power is of particular importance for forwards in the scrum and maul. The forward is required to hold the push in the scrum and give an explosive push when the ball is put in. The most frequently used standard field tests for leg power according to Nicholas (1997), which are also recommended in numerous training manuals and by the England Rugby Football Union (RFU), are the vertical jump and a timed short sprint test. This study was designed to compare performance scores attained and the maximal force applied in these tests with the maximal force which could be applied against the pneumatically controlled Predator individual scrummaging machine.