| Summary: | To understand the energy balance of international female rugby sevens (R7s) players in applied environments, this study estimated the energy intakes (EI) and total daily estimated energy expenditures (TDEE) during a five-day training camp (TRAIN) and phase of competition preparation (COMP) of equal duration. Tri-axial accelerometer devices were worn throughout both scenarios to estimate TDEE, whereas EI was estimated via self-reported food diaries. Energy deficits of −47% (TDEE<sub>TRAIN</sub>: 14.6 ± 1.6 MJ·day<sup>−1</sup>, EI<sub>TRAIN</sub>: 7.7 ± 0.9 MJ·day<sup>−1</sup>, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001, d = 5.1) and −50% (TDEE<sub>COMP</sub>: 15.5 ± 1.6 MJ·day<sup>−1</sup>, EI<sub>COMP</sub>: 7.7 ± 1.0 MJ·day<sup>−1</sup>, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001, d = 5.7) were observed throughout TRAIN (<i>n</i> = 11; age: 25 ± 4 years, height: 170 ± 6 cm, weight: 71 ± 7 kg) and COMP (<i>n</i> = 8; age: 25 ± 3 years, height: 172 ± 5 cm, weight: 72 ± 6 kg), respectively. Carbohydrate intakes were below the lower range of sports nutrition recommendations in both TRAIN (−62%; 2.3 ± 0.3 g·kg<sup>−1</sup> BM, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001) and COMP (−60%; 2.4 ± 0.5 g·kg<sup>−1</sup> BM, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001). For protein (TRAIN: 1.7 ± 0.4 g·kg<sup>−1</sup> BM, COMP: 1.5 ± 0.1 g·kg<sup>−1</sup> BM), intakes met the lower range of recommendations. Fat intake exceeded recommendations of the percentage of total EI (COMP: 39 ± 5%). Accordingly, the dietary strategies of international female R7s players may warrant optimization, as carbohydrate and fat intakes were less than optimal when compared to current performance-based sports nutrition guidelines.
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