The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Male International Rugby Union: The Impact of Sociocultural Influences and Playing Position
The purpose of this study is not only to establish whether the relative age effect (RAE) exists in male international rugby union players, but also to investigate the impact of sociocultural influences (i.e., northern and southern hemispheres) and playing position (i.e., backs, forwards, and scrum-h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1941 |
| _version_ | 1797460864269287424 |
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| author | Paolo Riccardo Brustio Adam Leigh Kelly Corrado Lupo Alexandru Nicolae Ungureanu |
| author_facet | Paolo Riccardo Brustio Adam Leigh Kelly Corrado Lupo Alexandru Nicolae Ungureanu |
| author_sort | Paolo Riccardo Brustio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this study is not only to establish whether the relative age effect (RAE) exists in male international rugby union players, but also to investigate the impact of sociocultural influences (i.e., northern and southern hemispheres) and playing position (i.e., backs, forwards, and scrum-halves). The birth date and the playing position of 7144 senior male professional rugby players included in the rosters of the season 2020–2021 were collected from the top 10 nations of the World Rugby rankings (i.e., Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales). Data were analyzed using a chi-square goodness-of-fit test to compare the observed and expected birth quarter (Q) distributions. Results showed that relatively older players were overrepresented in all the sample (<i>p</i> < 0.001; Q1 = 28.8% vs. Q4 = 20.3%). In players competing in both hemispheres, the RAE was weak despite a more pronounced RAE emerging for southern players. In addition, the RAE was present in backs and forwards, but inconsistent for scrum-halves. In general, the data suggest that relatively older players may be more likely to reach expertise at senior levels than their later-born peers, and that the effect was consistent in different sociocultural contexts as well as in backs and forwards. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:11:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a575bed3e904140ad2e738b1223dd08 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:11:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a575bed3e904140ad2e738b1223dd082023-11-24T14:02:23ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-12-01912194110.3390/children9121941The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Male International Rugby Union: The Impact of Sociocultural Influences and Playing PositionPaolo Riccardo Brustio0Adam Leigh Kelly1Corrado Lupo2Alexandru Nicolae Ungureanu3Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyCentre for Life and Sport Sciences (CLaSS), Faculty of Health, Education, and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B15 3TN, West Midlands, UKNeuroMuscularFunction, Research Group, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyNeuroMuscularFunction, Research Group, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, ItalyThe purpose of this study is not only to establish whether the relative age effect (RAE) exists in male international rugby union players, but also to investigate the impact of sociocultural influences (i.e., northern and southern hemispheres) and playing position (i.e., backs, forwards, and scrum-halves). The birth date and the playing position of 7144 senior male professional rugby players included in the rosters of the season 2020–2021 were collected from the top 10 nations of the World Rugby rankings (i.e., Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales). Data were analyzed using a chi-square goodness-of-fit test to compare the observed and expected birth quarter (Q) distributions. Results showed that relatively older players were overrepresented in all the sample (<i>p</i> < 0.001; Q1 = 28.8% vs. Q4 = 20.3%). In players competing in both hemispheres, the RAE was weak despite a more pronounced RAE emerging for southern players. In addition, the RAE was present in backs and forwards, but inconsistent for scrum-halves. In general, the data suggest that relatively older players may be more likely to reach expertise at senior levels than their later-born peers, and that the effect was consistent in different sociocultural contexts as well as in backs and forwards.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1941RAErugby football uniontalent developmentathlete developmentcultural contexttalent identification |
| spellingShingle | Paolo Riccardo Brustio Adam Leigh Kelly Corrado Lupo Alexandru Nicolae Ungureanu The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Male International Rugby Union: The Impact of Sociocultural Influences and Playing Position Children RAE rugby football union talent development athlete development cultural context talent identification |
| title | The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Male International Rugby Union: The Impact of Sociocultural Influences and Playing Position |
| title_full | The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Male International Rugby Union: The Impact of Sociocultural Influences and Playing Position |
| title_fullStr | The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Male International Rugby Union: The Impact of Sociocultural Influences and Playing Position |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Male International Rugby Union: The Impact of Sociocultural Influences and Playing Position |
| title_short | The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Relative Age Effect in Male International Rugby Union: The Impact of Sociocultural Influences and Playing Position |
| title_sort | influence of contextual factors on the relative age effect in male international rugby union the impact of sociocultural influences and playing position |
| topic | RAE rugby football union talent development athlete development cultural context talent identification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/12/1941 |
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