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Abstract

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 5: Issue 1, Article 3, 2024. The rugby codes (i.e., rugby union, rugby league, rugby sevens [termed ‘rugby’]) are team-sports that impose complex physical demands upon players which in-turn, leads to domain-specific fatigue (e.g., neuromuscular, cardio-autonomic). Quantifying post-match fatigue through various methods and metrics is important to monitor player fatigue status, which influences training readiness. The specific and general barriers limiting the use of post-match fatigue monitoring in rugby are not presently known. Therefore, the aims of this study were to identify specific and general barriers (clusters of specific barriers) to the use of post-match fatigue monitoring methods and metrics in rugby across the domains of neuromuscular performance, cardio-autonomic, tissue biomarker, and self-reported fatigue, and which of these specific barriers were considered important to overcome and feasible to overcome. An international cohort of subject matter experts (SME) in rugby completed a two-round online questionnaire survey (Round One; n = 42, Round Two; n = 13), with the responses collected and analysed using Concept Mapping. Specific barrier statements were generated based on the SME responses to Round One, which were structured and then rated by the SME for importance to overcome and feasibility to overcome in Round Two. Five clusters of specific barriers (representing the general barriers) were determined based on analyses of the SME responses: 1. ‘Budget and Equipment’, 2. ‘Data and Testing Considerations’, 3. ‘Player and Coach Perceptions’, 4. ‘Test Appropriateness’, and 5. ‘Time and Space’. For both importance to overcome and feasibility to overcome, the ‘Data and Testing Considerations’ had the highest overall rating and contained the largest number of specific barriers which rated highly. These findings should be considered when identifying which post-match fatigue monitoring methods and metrics to implement in rugby, and potentially other sports.

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