Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 15 (2012) 277–282 Original research Movement patterns in rugby sevens: Effects of tournament level, fatigue and substitute players Dean G. Higham a,b,c,∗ , David B. Pyne a,b , Judith M. Anson d , Anthony Eddy c a Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia b Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia c Australian Rugby Union, Sydney, Australia d Faculty of Applied Science, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia Received 7 September 2011; received in revised form 28 October 2011; accepted 17 November 2011 Abstract Objectives: Understanding of the physical demands and the effects of fatigue and substitute players in rugby sevens is limited. This study quantified the differences in movement patterns between domestic and international rugby sevens tournaments, the effects of fatigue within and between matches during tournaments, and movement patterns of second half substitute players. Design: Movement patterns of 19 international-level male rugby sevens players were recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS) device during 11 international and 16 domestic matches (n = 174 files). Methods: Maximum velocity, total distance covered, distance covered in velocity zones and number of moderate and high accelerations and decelerations are reported per min of match time. Movement patterns were compared between international and domestic matches, first and second half, first and last tournament match and substitute and full-match players. Results: Substantially greater distance was covered at high velocity (∼27% at ≥6 m s -1 ) and 4–39% more accelerations and decelerations were performed in international than domestic matches. The relative distance covered by players at velocities >2 m s -1 and the number of changes in velocity were reduced by 1–16% from first to second half. Small differences were observed in activity at <5 m s -1 (-8–8%) and moderate accelerations (-18%) from first to last tournament match. All movement variables were higher (2–123%) for substitute players. Conclusions: International rugby sevens competition is more intense than domestic matches. Despite reductions in work-rate within individual matches, there is little indication of accumulated fatigue over a multi-day tournament. © 2011 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: GPS; Time-motion analysis; Game analysis; Acceleration; Sprint 1. Introduction The popularity of rugby sevens has spread rapidly in recent years and the sport is now played at the domestic and international level all over the world. In 2009, rugby sevens was formally included in the Olympic Games from 2016. Rugby sevens is an abbreviated variant of rugby union in which two teams, each with seven players on the field, compete for two 7 min halves with a 2 min half time interval. Rugby sevens is played on a full dimension ∗ Corresponding author at: Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport PO Box 176 Belconnen ACT, Australia 2617. Tel.: +61 262147344. E-mail address: dean.higham@ausport.gov.au (D.G. Higham). rugby union field under substantially the same laws as 15-player rugby union. Given the increasing number of international competitions in rugby sevens, the transition from the domestic to international stage is an important consideration for players and coaches, yet to date, there is no scientific review of the likely differences in game demands between international- and domestic-level competition. Rugby sevens competitions differ from 15-player rugby union in that they are usually played over 2- or sometimes 3-day tournaments. Teams play three group stage matches on day one and two, typically with ∼3 h between matches and then, depending on results, up to three finals matches on the last day. The ability of players to repeat short duration, high intensity running efforts on multiple occasions over several 1440-2440/$ – see front matter © 2011 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2011.11.256