Physiological demands of officiating in the game of Rugby Union at the senior level

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological demands of officiating in the code of Rugby Union at an elite level and to propose a relevant programme of fitness testing and training arising from the results obtained. A group of ten RFU National Panel referees were selected as subjects and all were analysed performing match duties as both a referee and a touch-judge during a number of level 1 and 2 league matches. Each subject performed a range of laboratory tests to establish various physiological parameters, which were then compared with the match analysis findings of heart rate and total match distances. [Continues.]