Trial Review

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Trial registered on ANZCTR


Registration number
Help: Registration number
ACTRN12626001212347
Ethics application status
Help: Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
Help: Date submitted
21/08/2026
Date registered
Help: Date registered
30/09/2026
Date last updated
Help: Date last updated
30/09/2026
Date data sharing statement initially provided
Help: Data sharing statement date
30/09/2026
Type of registration
Help: Type of registration
Prospectively registered

Titles & IDs
Public title
How changes in physical performance relate to match performance in elite male rugby union players
Scientific title
Relationship between longitudinal changes in physical performance qualities and match performance indicators in elite male rugby union players: a prospective observational study
Additional trial identifiers [1] 318209 0
Nil
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
Trial acronym
Related trial records

Health condition
Health condition(s) studied:
Physical performance 343269 0
Condition category
Condition code
Musculoskeletal 339778 339778 0 0
Normal musculoskeletal and cartilage development and function
Cardiovascular 339779 339779 0 0
Normal development and function of the cardiovascular system

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Observational
Patient registry
False
Target follow-up duration
Target follow-up type
Description of the intervention or exposure
This observational study examined the relationship between longitudinal changes in physical performance qualities and match performance indicators in elite male rugby union players. No experimental training intervention was assigned as part of the research. Physical performance data had been collected as part of routine athlete monitoring and included countermovement jump performance, 10 m sprint performance, isometric belt squat strength, and Bronco running performance. The frequency of testing varied according to the physical quality being assessed; for example, countermovement jump testing was undertaken approximately weekly, while sprint, isometric strength, and Bronco testing were conducted less frequently at selected routine monitoring timepoints across the season. These physical performance measures were examined in relation to match performance indicators collected for each eligible competitive match during the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Super Rugby Pacific seasons.
Intervention code [1] 335111 0
Not applicable
Description of the comparator or control
No control group.
Control group
Uncontrolled

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 346585 0
Physical function: lower-limb explosive function
Timepoint [1] 346585 0
Approximately weekly during the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Super Rugby Pacific seasons as part of routine athlete monitoring.
Secondary outcome [1] 466500 0
Physical function: sprint performance
Timepoint [1] 466500 0
Assessed approximately 15 times per season during the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Super Rugby Pacific seasons as part of routine physical performance monitoring.
Secondary outcome [2] 466507 0
Lower-limb muscle strength
Timepoint [2] 466507 0
Assessed approximately 10 times per season during the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Super Rugby Pacific seasons as part of routine physical performance monitoring.
Secondary outcome [3] 466509 0
Cardiorespiratory fitness
Timepoint [3] 466509 0
Assessed once in pre-season during the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Super Rugby Pacific seasons as part of routine physical performance monitoring.

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
Elite adult male rugby union players who are fully contracted members of the professional Super Rugby squad, aged 18–35 years, medically cleared for full training and match participation, involved in routine physical performance testing and match monitoring during the study period, and who provide written informed consent to participate.
Minimum age
18 Years
Maximum age
35 Years
Sex
Males
Healthy volunteers
No
Key exclusion criteria
Players will be excluded if they are injured or medically unavailable for baseline physical testing, are not contracted for the required study period, do not complete the required physical performance testing, or withdraw consent prior to the commencement of data analysis.

Study design
Purpose
Natural history
Duration
Longitudinal
Selection
Defined population
Timing
Retrospective
Statistical methods / analysis
The study will use a total population sampling approach, with all eligible players from the professional rugby squad invited to participate. Approximately 38 players are potentially eligible. The sample size is therefore determined by the size of the available defined population rather than by recruitment to a predetermined target. This approach aims to maximise the available sample within the elite professional rugby environment.

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Not yet recruiting
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
2/11/2026
Actual
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
1/12/2026
Actual
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
1/12/2026
Actual
Sample size
Target
38
Accrual to date
Final
Recruitment outside Australia
Country [1] 28451 0
New Zealand
State/province [1] 28451 0

Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1] 322771 0
University
Name [1] 322771 0
The University of Waikato
Country [1] 322771 0
New Zealand
Primary sponsor type
Individual
Name
Scott Joblin, The University of Waikato
Address
Country
New Zealand
Secondary sponsor category [1] 325698 0
None
Name [1] 325698 0
Address [1] 325698 0
Country [1] 325698 0

Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
Ethics committee name [1] 321214 0
University of Waikato Human Research Ethics Committee (Health)
Ethics committee address [1] 321214 0
Ethics committee country [1] 321214 0
New Zealand
Date submitted for ethics approval [1] 321214 0
10/08/2026
Approval date [1] 321214 0
25/09/2026
Ethics approval number [1] 321214 0
HREC(Health)2026#97: Relationship between longitudinal changes in physical performance qualities and match performance indicators in elite male rugby union players

Summary
Brief summary
Trial website
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 153026 0
Mr Scott Joblin
Address 153026 0
The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240
Country 153026 0
New Zealand
Phone 153026 0
+64273502143
Fax 153026 0
Email 153026 0
[email protected]
Contact person for public queries
Name 153027 0
Scott Joblin
Address 153027 0
The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240
Country 153027 0
New Zealand
Phone 153027 0
+64273502143
Fax 153027 0
Email 153027 0
[email protected]
Contact person for scientific queries
Name 153028 0
Martyn Beaven
Address 153028 0
The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240
Country 153028 0
New Zealand
Phone 153028 0
+64 7 838 4874
Fax 153028 0
Email 153028 0
[email protected]

Data sharing statement
Will the study consider sharing individual participant data?
No
No IPD sharing reason/comment: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available due to participant confidentiality, the small and identifiable nature of the elite professional rugby cohort, and the commercially sensitive nature of athlete physical performance and match performance data. Study findings will be reported only in de-identified and aggregated form.



What supporting documents are/will be available?

No Supporting Document Provided


Results publications and other study-related documents

Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.

Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.