Analysis of Positional Physical Demands in Tier 2 Rugby Union: A Multivariate Approach over Speed Ranges

Rugby union involves intermittent high- and low-intensity activities, making it essential for strength and conditioning practitioners to understand specific physical demands. While GPS technology has enhanced this understanding, limited research focuses on Tier 2 national teams. This study aimed to describe the speed-related physical demands of a Tier 2 national rugby union team. This retrospective observational study analyzed 230 GPS files from 55 professional male players of an international Tier 2 national rugby union team, collected across 17 international matches. Speed-related performance variables were analyzed. Players who played ≥55 min were included. A Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc comparisons was used to examine positional differences. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified four main components explaining 84.65% of the variance, while a two-step cluster analysis grouped players into Low-, Mid-, and High-Demand profiles based on these components. Backs showed greater high-intensity running demands compared to forwards. This study's results provide novel insights into the physical demands of Tier 2 international rugby union, highlighting differences among player positions and clustering players based on their specific speed demands. These findings can help strength and conditioning practitioners design position-specific training loads, implement tailored recovery strategies, and reduce injury risk in Tier 2 international rugby union.