The impact of matches and travel on rugby players’ sleep, wellness and training

Abstract

Matches and travel, which are common in professional team sports, may have a negative impact on players. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact on sleep, wellness and training of Super Rugby players. Sleep of 122 players from four teams was monitored using activity monitors for up to three nights before and after matches played at home and overseas. Wellness and internal training load (questionnaires) and external training load (GPS/accelerometer) were also recorded. Separate analyses were performed for each team using a general linear mixed model to estimate the mean effects of travel (translocation overseas and return to the home country) on sleep, wellness and training. The mean effects of matches on sleep and wellness on the nights before, of and after matches. were also estimated. Teams generally experienced small to large reductions in sleep and wellness when overseas; on return, sleep and wellness recovered somewhat. The impact of matches on sleep and wellness differed in magnitude and direction (large reductions to small increases) between teams. External load overseas and upon return was reduced for three of the four teams, whilst internal load was reduced for the three teams that measured it. The changes in sleep, wellness and training can be explained by a combination of travel- and match-related stressors that differed between teams. Teams should consider remediation strategies to mitigate the effects of travel.