Comparative characteristics of elite New Zealand and South African u/16 rugby players with reference to game-specific skills, physical abilities and anthropometric data

Abstract

Objective. A comparative study of elite New Zealand and South African u/16 rugby players with special reference to game-specific skills, physical abilities and anthropometric data. Design and settings. A battery of tests was used to obtain information concerning a group of elite New Zealand players (N=24) and two elite South African groups (N=64). Information was obtained for game-specific skills, physical abilities, and anthropometric data. Results. The New Zealand players outperformed the South African players in game-specific tests, physical abilities, and anthropometric measurements. Where the South African groups performed better than the New Zealand group, it was not practically significant. Conclusion. South African rugby authorities should be cognisant of the areas where South African u/16 rugby players were outperformed by their New Zealand counterparts, and consequently develop specific development programmes to address these shortcomings.