Preconditioning Strategy in Rugby-7s Players: Beneficial or Detrimental?

Preconditioning strategies are considered as opportunities to optimize performance on competition day. While investigations conducted in rugby players on the effects of a morning preconditioning session already exist, additional work is warranted. The aim of this study was to monitor changes in physical and psychophysiological indicators among international Rugby-7s players following a priming exercise. In a randomized crossover-design, fourteen under-18 international Rugby-7s players completed, at 8:00am, a preconditioning session consisting of a warm-up followed by small-sided games, accelerations and 2 x 50-m maximal sprints (Experimental) or no pre-loading session (Control). Following a 2-hour break, the players performed a set of six 30-m sprints and a Rugby-7s match. Recovery-stress state and salivary stress-markers levels were assessed before the preloading session (Pre), immediately after (Post-1), before the testing session (Post-2) and after (Post-3). Experimental-Control differences in performance across a repeated sprint test consisting of six 30-m sprints were very likely trivial (+0.2 ±0.7%, 3/97/1%). During the match, the total distance covered and the frequency of decelerations were possibly lower (small) in Experimental compared to Control. Differences observed in the other parameters were unclear or possibly trivial. At Post-2, the perceived recovery-stress state was improved (small difference) in Experimental compared with Control. No difference in salivary cortisol response was observed while the preconditioning session induced a higher stimulation of salivary testosterone and alpha-amylase. The players' ability to repeat sprints and physical activity in match-play did not improve but their psychophysiological state was positively affected after the present pre-conditioning session.