Comparison of Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training Versus Traditional Strength Training on Speed, Agility, Power, and Movement Quality in Intermediate Rugby Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Male and female athletes aged 18-25 years
A minimum of 2 years of structured rugby training experience
Actively training at least 3 hours per week
Medically cleared to engage in high-intensity physical activity
History of moderate or severe musculoskeletal injuries or surgery within the past 6-12 months
Not medically approved to engage in high-intensity physical activities
Cardiovascular or cardiopulmonary disease or risk factors that contraindicate high-intensity training
Participation in any additional structured strength or plyometric program outside the study protocol during the intervention period
Parallel
Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training
Other interventionParticipants perform progressive sprint (10-100 m) and plyometric exercises (squat jumps, box jumps, single-leg hops, depth jumps) over 8 weeks. Frequency: 2 sessions/week, 45-60 min/session. Rest between sets: 3 minutes. Rest between sessions: 48-72 hours. Volume and distance progress across 4 two-week blocks
Traditional Strength Training Group
Other interventionParticipants perform lower-body resistance exercises (barbell squat, leg press, lunges, Romanian deadlift, leg curl, leg extension) at 60-80% 1RM over 8 weeks. Frequency: 2 sessions/week, 45-60 min/session. Rest between sets: 1.5-3 minutes. Load progressively increased across 4 two-week blocks.
Sprint Speed - Electronic Timing Gates (40 m and 80 m)
Sprint time measured in seconds over 40 m and 80 m distances using electronic timing gates. Very high criterion validity (r ≈ 0.95-0.99) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC ≈ 0.90-0.99)
Agility - T-Test
Time (seconds) to complete the standard agility T-Test course assessing change-of-direction speed. High construct and criterion validity (r ≈ 0.80-0.96); high test-retest reliability (ICC ≈ 0.88-0.98)
Lower-Body Explosive Power - Standing Long Jump Test
Distance (cm) achieved in the standing long jump as a measure of lower-body explosive power. Strong concurrent validity with force-plate measures (r ≈ 0.76-0.91); excellent reliability (ICC ≈ 0.97-0.99)
Movement Quality - Functional Movement Screen (FMS)
Composite FMS score (0-21) assessing fundamental movement quality across 7 movement patterns. Moderate to good construct validity (r ≈ 0.60-0.85); moderate to excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability (ICC ≈ 0.74-0.98)
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