Variables associated with the performance of a male European professional rugby team. Analysis of the regular season

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to identify the relationship between performance parameters and a team's probability of winning and losing during regular season matches. A retrospective observational study of a professional rugby team with thirty players and sixteen regular season matches was carried out. The analyses included the following metrics: carries in open play, gainline success, gainline unsuccess, good pass, average pass, bad pass, good kick, average kick, bad kick, effective ruck, ineffective ruck, dominant tackle, neutral tackle, passive tackle, tackle assist, tackle missed, defender in position, good offload, kick fielded successfully, kick fielded unsuccessfully, ball lost, intercept, turnover made, linebreak, yellow card, red card, a penalty conceded, try scored, injury, player off, player on, successful kick at goal, unsuccessful kick at goal, lineout, lineout won, scrum, scrum won, return to play, ruck speed and tackle completion. No single parameter could be directly related to wins or losses. Nevertheless, four parameters when pooled could be associated with winning during the analysed season (r = 0.897, r2 = 0.805, r adjusted = 0.635, p<0.05): gainline success (p<0.002), effective ruck (p<0.009), dominant tackle (p<0.018) and tackle assist (p<0.029). On this specific context, coaches and practitioners should pay more attention to these specific actions to improve team performance.