Alterations in core temperature during World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments in temperate and warm environments^†

† Research Conducted: Led by affiliation one, with data collection at relevant stadium in Singapore and London.

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize player core temperature (Tc) across two separate World Rugby Sevens Series (WRSS) tournaments in temperate and warm environments. Methods: Tc was collected in seventeen playing members of one men’s team competing at the Singapore (n = 12) and London (n = 11) WRSS tournaments. Exertional heat illness (EHI) symptoms, cooling strategy use, playing minutes and wet blub globe temperature (WBGT) were also collected. Linear mixed models and magnitude-based inferences assessed differences in Tc between all periods within-and between tournaments and were also used to assess the effect of WBGT and playing minutes on Tc. Results: Several players experienced Tc in excess of 38°C during warm-ups and 39°C during games. The highest mean Tc values were observed in the final game on all days and in Singapore Day Two, there were substantial game-on-game increases in mean Tc. These Tc responses were associated with playing minutes (effect size; ±90% CL = 0.38; ±0.20), although the effect of WBGT was trivial and unclear. Further, there were no differences in Tc between the two tournaments in the different environments. Despite high individual peak Tc values (Singapore 39.9°C; London 39.6°C); no signs/symptoms of EHI were reported, voluntary post-game cooling usage was minimal, and pre- and mid-cooling strategies were not implemented. Conclusions: During WRSS matches, peak Tc values approached thresholds associated with EHI (>40°C) and exceeded those demonstrated to reduce repeated sprint performance (>39°C). Practitioners may consider the use of compatible cooling and heat acclimation strategies to minimize Tc increase and maximize player preparedness and recovery.

Keywords:

• Heat
• elite
• telemetric
• hyperthermia

Declarations/Acknowledgements

The authors thank the players and staff for their willingness, professionalism, engagement and time pre, during and post the executed research project – without which – the project would not have been viable. Lee Taylor (and co-authors) thanks the Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF; Doha, Qatar) for the funding and support to complete the presented research project. Lee Taylor (and co-authors) thanks BodyCap (Caen, France) for the loan of twelve e-Viewers for the London tournament of the presented research project. The authors thank Gavin Travers who provided technical guidance regarding the BodyCap system. Aside from the above there were was no further potential conflict of interests for any author in this study. Each author contributed to experimental design, data collection and data analysis, manuscript drafting and agreed to the submitted version of the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

† Research Conducted: Led by affiliation one, with data collection at relevant stadium in Singapore and London.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Aspire Zone Foundation.