A comparison of match demands using ball-in-play versus whole-match data in the 2023 super rugby Américas champion team

Abstract

Rugby union is a high-intensity, intermittent sport with varying positional demands. Whole-match (WM) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) analysis may underestimate peak physical outputs. This study compared match demands in Super Rugby Américas using ball-in-play (BiP) versus WM data to better inform conditioning strategies, with positional demands considered as secondary context. GNSS data were collected from 35 professional players of the 2023 Super Rugby Américas champion team across 14 matches. Metrics included total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR), accelerations (ACC), and high-metabolic-load distance (HMLD), reported in absolute and relative terms. Linear mixed models assessed differences between BiP and WM while accounting for positional group (forwards and backs). BiP phases exhibited significantly greater relative demands than WM. TD·min⁻¹ was ∼2.5 times higher during BiP (114.9 ± 7.7 vs 47.5 ± 4.1 m·min⁻¹; p < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed for ACC·min⁻¹ (0.8 ± 0.1 vs 0.2 ± 0.03 accelerations·min⁻¹), HSR·min⁻¹ (15.4 ± 2.6 vs 3.7 ± 0.5 m·min⁻¹), and HMLD·min⁻¹ (27.9 ± 3.7 vs 7.0 ± 0.8 m·min⁻¹; all p < 0.001). Within this BiP–WM comparison, backs demonstrated greater TD, ACC, HSR, and HMLD than forwards (p < 0.001). Overall, BiP analysis better reflects match demands and highlights the importance of aligning conditioning programmes with BiP-derived per-minute intensity profiles. Positional differences may guide emphasis within this BiP-focused framework, rather than distinct exercise selection, to better prepare players for the most demanding phases of match play.