A narrative review of the role of psychological skills and characteristics in navigating the pathway to professional rugby union

References

• Abbott, A., & Collins, D. (2004). Eliminating the dichotomy between theory and practice in talent identification and development: Considering the role of psychology. Journal of Sports Sciences, 22(5), 395–408. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410410001675324
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Baker, J., Devitt, B., Green, J., & McCarthy, C. (2013). Concussion among under 20 rugby union players in Ireland: Incidence, attitudes and knowledge. Irish Journal of Medical Science, 182(1), 121–125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-012-0846-1
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Beckford, T. S., Poudevigne, M., Irving, R. R., & Golden, K. D. (2016). Mental toughness and coping skills in Male sprinters. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 11(3), 338–347. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2016.113.01
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bitchell, C. L., Mathema, P., & Moore, I. S. (2020). Four-year match injury surveillance in male Welsh professional rugby union teams. Physical Therapy in Sport, 42, 26–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2019.12.001
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Carson, F., & Polman, R. C. J. (2017). Self-determined motivation in rehabilitating professional rugby union players. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 9(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-016-0065-6
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Casserly, N., Neville, R., Ditroilo, M., & Grainger, A. (2019). Longitudinal changes in the physical development of Elite Adolescent rugby union players: Effect of playing position and body mass change. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 15(4), 520–527. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-0154.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Collins, D., MacNamara, Á, & Cruickshank, A. (2019). Research and practice in talent identification and development—some Thoughts on the state of play. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 31(3), 340–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2018.1475430
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Collins, D., Macnamara, A., & McCarthy, N. (2016). Super champions, champions, and almosts: Important differences and commonalities on the rocky road [original research]. Frontiers in Psychology, 6(2009), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02009.
   Google Scholar
• Corrado, D., Murgia, M., & Freda, A. (2014). Attentional focus and mental skills in senior and junior professional rugby union players. Sport Sciences for Health, 10(2), 79–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-014-0177-x
   Google Scholar
• Cowden, R. G., Meyer-Weitz, A., & Oppong Asante, K. (2016). Mental toughness in competitive tennis: Relationships with Resilience and stress. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 320. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00320
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2008). Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 49(3), 182–185. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012801. Social Psychology and Self-Determination Theory: A Canadian Contribution/Psychologie sociale et Théorie de l’autodétermination: Une contribution canadienne.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Didymus, F. F., & Backhouse, S. H. (2020). Coping by doping?A qualitative inquiry into permitted and prohibited substance use in competitive rugby. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 49, 101680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101680.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Dohme, L., Backhouse, S., Piggott, D., & Morgan, G. (2016). Categorizing and defining popular psychological terms used within the youth athlete talent development literature: A systematic review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 134–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2016.1185451.
   Google Scholar
• Dohme, L.-C., Piggott, D., Backhouse, S., & Morgan, G. (2019). Psychological skills and characteristics Facilitative of youth athletes’ development: A systematic review. The Sport Psychologist, 33(4), 261–275. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2018-0014
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Drew, K., Morris, R., Tod, D., & Eubank, M. (2019). A meta-study of qualitative research on the junior-to-senior transition in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 45, 101556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101556.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Finn, J., & McKenna, J. (2010). Coping with academy-to-first-team transitions in elite English male team sports: The coaches’ perspective. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 5(2), 257–279. https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.5.2.257
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Fletcher, D., & Sarkar, M. (2012). A grounded theory of psychological resilience in Olympic champions. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13(5), 669–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.04.007
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gagné, F. (2010). Motivation within the DMGT 2.0 framework. High Ability Studies, 21(2), 81–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/13598139.2010.525341
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gledhill, A., & Harwood, C. (2015). A holistic perspective on career development in UK female soccer players: A negative case analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 21, 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2015.04.003
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gouttebarge, V, Hopley, P, Kerkhoffs, G., Verhagen, E, Viljoen, W., Wylleman, P., & Lambert, M. (2018). A 12-month prospective cohort study of symptoms of common mental disorders among professional rugby players. European Journal of Sport Science, 18(7), 1004–1012.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Greenhalgh, T., Thorne, S., & Malterud, K. (2018). Time to challenge the spurious hierarchy of systematic over narrative reviews?. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 48(6), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/eci.12931.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gucciardi, D. F., Gordon, S., & Dimmock, J. A. (2008). Towards an understanding of mental toughness in Australian football. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 20(3), 261–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200801998556
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Gucciardi, D. F., Hanton, S., Gordon, S., Mallett, C. J., & Temby, P. (2015). The concept of mental toughness: Tests of dimensionality, nomological network, and traitness. Journal of Personality, 83(1), 26–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12079
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hill, A., & Appleton, P. (2011). The predictive ability of the frequency of perfectionistic cognitions, self-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism in relation to symptoms of burnout in youth rugby players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(7), 695–703. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.551216
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hill, A., Macnamara, A., & Collins, D. (2015). Psychobehaviorally based features of effective talent development in rugby union: A Coach’s perspective. The Sport Psychologist, 29(3), 201–212. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2014-0103
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hodge, K., Henry, G., & Smith, W. (2014). A case study of excellence in elite sport: Motivational climate in a world champion team. The Sport Psychologist, 28(1), 60–74. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2013-0037
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hodge, K., Lonsdale, C., & Ng, J. Y. Y. (2008a). Burnout in elite rugby: Relationships with basic psychological needs fulfilment. Journal of Sports Sciences, 26(8), 835–844. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410701784525
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hodge, K., Lonsdale, C. S., & McKenzie, A. (2008b). Thinking rugby: Using sport psychology to improve rugby performance. In J. Dosil (Ed.), (pp. 183–209). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470713174.ch9
   Google Scholar
• Holland, M. J. G., Woodcock, C., Cumming, J., & Duda, J. L. (2010). Mental qualities and employed mental techniques of young elite team sport athletes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 4(1), 19–38. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.4.1.19
   Google Scholar
• Holt, N. L., & Mitchell, T. (2006). Talent development in English professional soccer. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 37(2/3), 77–98.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hudson, J., Males, J. R., & Kerr, J. H. (2016). Reversal theory-based sport and exercise research: A systematic/narrative review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 27, 168–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.08.008
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jones, B., Weaving, D., Tee, J., Darrall-Jones, J., Weakley, J., Phibbs, P., Read, D., Roe, G., Hendricks, S., & Till, K. (2018). Bigger, stronger, faster, fitter: The differences in physical qualities of school and academy rugby union players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(21), 2399–2404. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1458589.
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Larsen, C., Alfermann, D., & Christensen, M. (2012). Psychosocial skills in a youth soccer academy: A holistic ecological perspective. Sport Science Review, 21(3/4), 51–74. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10237-012-0010-x
   Google Scholar
• Macnamara, A., Button, A., & Collins, D. (2010a). The role of psychological characteristics in facilitating the pathway to elite performance part 1: Identifying mental skills and behaviors. The Sport Psychologist, 24(1), 52–73. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.24.1.52
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Macnamara, A., Button, A., & Collins, D. (2010b). The role of psychological characteristics in facilitating the pathway to elite performance part 2: Examining environmental and stage-related differences in skills and behaviors. The Sport Psychologist, 24(1), 74–96. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.24.1.74
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mann, D. L., Dehghansai, N., & Baker, J. (2017). Searching for the elusive gift: Advances in talent identification in sport. Current Opinion in Psychology, 16, 128–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.04.016
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• McKenna, J., & Thomas, H. (2007). Enduring injustice: A case study of retirement from professional rugby union. Sport, Education and Society, 12(1), 19–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573320601081500
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mellalieu, S. D. (2017). Sport psychology consulting in professional rugby union in the United Kingdom. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 8(2), 109–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2017.1299061
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mills, A., Butt, J., Maynard, I., & Harwood, C. (2012). Identifying factors perceived to influence the development of elite youth football academy players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(15), 1593–1604. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.710753
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nicholls, A. R., Backhouse, S. H., Polman, R. C. J., & McKenna, J. (2009). Stressors and affective states among professional rugby union players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 19(1), 121–128. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2007.00757.x
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nicholls, A. R., Holt, N. L., Polman, R. C. J., & Bloomfield, J. (2006). Stressors, coping, and coping effectiveness among professional Rugby union players. The Sport Psychologist, 20(3), 314–329. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.20.3.314
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Nicholls, A. R., Mckenna, J., Polman, R. C. J., & Backhouse, S. H. (2011). Overtraining During Preseason: Stress and Negative Affective States Among Professional Rugby Union Players. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 5(3), 211–222.
   Google Scholar
• Nicholls, A. R., & Polman, R. C. J. (2007). Stressors, Coping, and Coping Effectiveness Among Players from the England Under-18 Rugby Union Team. Journal of Sport Behavior, 30(2), 199–218.
   Google Scholar
• Palmer-Green, D. S., Stokes, K. A., Fuller, C. W., England, M., Kemp, S. P., & Trewartha, G. (2015). Training activities and injuries in English youth academy and schools rugby union. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(2), 475–481. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546514560337
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Quarrie, K. L., Alsop, J. C., Waller, A. E., Bird, Y. N., Marshall, S. W., & Chalmers, D. J. (2001). The New Zealand rugby injury and performance project. VI. A prospective cohort study of risk factors for injury in rugby union football. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 35(3), 157–166. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.35.3.157
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ranson, C., George, J., Rafferty, J., Miles, J., & Moore, I. (2018). Playing surface and UK professional rugby union injury risk. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(21), 2393–2398. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1458588
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Read, D. B., Jones, B., Phibbs, P. J., Roe, G. A. B., Darrall-Jones, J., Weakley, J. J. S., & Till, K. (2018). The physical characteristics of match-play in English schoolboy and academy rugby union. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(6), 645–650. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1329546
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Roberts, G. C., & Treasure, D. (2012). Advances in motivation in sport and exercise. Human Kinetics.
   Google Scholar
• Roberts, S. J., & Fairclough, S. J. (2012). The influence of relative age effects in representative youth rugby union in the north west of england. Asian Journal of Exercise & Sports Science, 9(2), 86–98.
   Google Scholar
• Sedeaud, A., Marc, A., Schipman, J., Tafflet, M., Hager, J.-P., & Toussaint, J.-F. (2012). How they won Rugby world cup through height, mass and collective experience. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(8), 580–584. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2011-090506
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Sheard, M. (2012). Mental toughness: The mindset behind sporting achievement. Routledge.
   Google Scholar
• Sheard, M., & Golby, J. (2009). Investigating the ‘rigid persistence paradox’ in professional rugby union football. International Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 7(1), 101–114. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2009.9671895
   Google Scholar
• Steidl-Müller, L., Hildebrandt, C., Raschner, C., & Müller, E. (2019). Challenges of talent development in alpine ski racing: A narrative review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(6), 601–612. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1513355
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Taylor, J., & Collins, D. (2019). Shoulda, coulda, didnae—why don't high-potential players make it? The Sport Psychologist, 33(2), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2017-0153
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Taylor, R. D., Collins, D., & Carson, H. J. (2017). Sibling interaction as a facilitator for talent development in sport. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 12(2), 219–230. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954117694926
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Till, K., Cobley, S., Morley, D., O’hara, J., Chapman, C., & Cooke, C. (2016). The influence of age, playing position, anthropometry and fitness on career attainment outcomes in rugby league. Journal of Sports Sciences, 34(13), 1240–1245. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1105380
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Till, K., Weakley, J., Read, D. B., Phibbs, P., Darrall-Jones, J., Roe, G., Chantler, S., Mellalieu, S., Hislop, M., Stokes, K., Rock, A., & Jones, B. (2020). Applied sport science for male age-grade rugby union in england. SportS Medicine - Open, 6(1), 14–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-020-0236-6
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Tucker, R., Lancaster, S., Davies, P., Street, G., Starling, L., de Coning, C., & Brown, J. (2021). Trends in player body mass at men’s and women’s Rugby world cups: A plateau in body mass and differences in emerging rugby nations. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 7(1), e000885. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000885.
   PubMedGoogle Scholar
• Vaeyens, R., Gullich, A., Warr, C. R., & Philippaerts, R. (2009). Talent identification and promotion programmes of Olympic athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences, 27(13), 1367–1380. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410903110974
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Vaeyens, R., Lenoir, M., Williams, A. M., & Philippaerts, R. M. (2008). Talent identification and development programmes in sport: Current models and future directions. Sports Medicine, 38(9), 703–714. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200838090-00001
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wilson, K., Hardy, L., & Harwood, C. (2006). Investigating the Relationship Between Achievement Goals and Process Goals in Rugby Union Players. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 18(4), 297–311.
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wood, D. J., Coughlan, G. F., & Delahunt, E. (2018). Fitness profiles of elite adolescent Irish rugby union players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(1), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001694
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Woodcock, C., Holland, M. J. G., Duda, J. L., & Cumming, J. (2011). Psychological qualities of elite adolescent Rugby players: Parents, coaches, and Sport administration staff perceptions and Supporting roles. The Sport Psychologist, 25(4), 411–443. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.25.4.411
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• World Rugby. (2019). Long-term player development. World Rugby. Retrieved May 5. https://rugbyready.worldrugby.org/?section=56
   Google Scholar
• World Rugby. (2020). An open game: The story of how Rugby union turned professional. World Rugby. Retrieved October 21. https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2019/news/582543
   Google Scholar
• World Rugby. (2021). World review a year in review. World Rugby. Retrieved May 1. https://www.world.rugby/organisation/about-us/annual-reports
   Google Scholar