A Comparison of Somatotype Characteristics among Player Positions in Collegiate Rugby Union

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare somatotypes of rugby players at a collegiate level and examine the anthropometrical differences found between playing positions. "While a variety of different sciences apply the principles of anthropometry, from nutritionists concerned with obesity to ergonomists concerned with low back pain, anthropometry has long been applied in a sporting setting due to the influence body morphology and somatotype has on sporting performance" (Norton and Olds, 2004). Ten Anthropometrical measurements were carried out on Thirty-Five male collegiate rugby players, in order to gain somatotypes for comparison between playing positions. Players were split into six positional groups; Front row(1), second row(2), back row(3), half backs(4), midfield backs(5), and outside backs(6). Groups were compared with each other in order to find significant difference (p<0.05) between the individual components; endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy.(1,2,3, forwards/ 4,5,6, backs) Significant difference (p<0.05) was found between positional categories within both the forwards and backs. The front row were found to me mesomorphendomorphs, while the second row, outside backs and midfield backs were classified as balanced mesomorphs, the two final groups the back row and the half backs, were endomorphic mesomorphs.