Analysis of International Rugby Sevens matches during tournaments

The purpose of this study was to analyse the time structures of match and stoppage activities of matches during the Sevens World Series. Sixty matches (n=60) of the first three tournaments of the Sevens World Series 2011 to 2012 were recorded and analysed. The performance indicators used for the purpose of this study was: total match time, ball in play time, stoppage time, number of stoppages and match activities, length of stoppages and different match activities. The duration of a match is 1002.15 +/- 136.23s, with a mean of 43.64 +/- 29.19s/match activities; 71% of play are activities with efforts less than 51s; 61% of the stoppages activities have a duration less than 51s; quarterfinals (50,90 +/- 28.18s/stoppage activity) and finals (50.79 +/- 29.95s/stoppage sequence) the length of the stoppage are statically significant (p < 0.01). The common trends were that play activities are longer in the pool matches when compared to play-off stages. The research and analysis of the time structures of matches and the tournaments is an important performance indicator to construct training programs to prepare teams for rugby sevens matches and tournaments.