title: Offence vs defence: Quantifying workload demands in professional Rugby Union

authors: Stevens, Luke Jonathan

subjects: Ball-in-play

abstract: Title: Offence vs defence: Quantifying workload demands in professional Rugby Union.
Purpose: Rugby Union is a skill-based contact team sport demanding high levels of physical and tactical skill. Ensuring that training matches the physical requirements for match-play demands is, therefore, important for success. Many factors influence the workload demands of match-play, including positional differences and the type of play (offence or defence). This thesis encloses an original and innovative study that compares the locomotive and contact workload demands of offensive and defensive ball-in-play periods for professional rugby union match-play. 
Methods: Data were collected for 40 professional Rugby Union players across 14 games in the 2021 Super Rugby season. All participants wore GPS units (Apex Pro Pod, STATSport, Newry, NIR). Each match was filmed and coded using the Sportscode video analysis software package (Sportscode 12.4.3, Sportstec, Australia), where contact metrics and type of play (offence and defence) were identified throughout the match. GPS and Sportscode data were combined in a bespoke software package. Data were analysed with the Statistical Analysis System (On-Demand for Academics, version 9.04, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA), using a generalised mixed-model procedure (Proc Glimmix) specifying a log link and a Poisson distribution that allowed for overdispersion. The effect magnitudes were assessed for 2 SD changes in predictors. 
Results: Most metrics showed small to moderate increases for forwards and backs when offence was compared to defence. Small to large decreases in locomotive metrics, and a very large increase in contacts was observed when comparing forwards to backs, on offence and defence. When the effect of match outcome was examined, small to moderate effects were observed for some metrics for forwards on defence and backs on offence. The effect of fatigue was moderate to very large across most metrics, for forwards and backs in offence and defence.
Conclusion: Offensive periods of play demanded a decisively greater workload than defensive periods of play across most metrics for forwards and backs. Additionally, there was strong evidence that backs performed greater locomotive workload but less contacts compared to forwards in both offence and defence. When winning was compared to losing, there was good evidence that backs achieved greater values for most locomotive metrics on offence, whilst forwards achieved greater values for some metrics during defence. Understanding how workload demands vary between positions and types of play can aid practitioners in effectively replicating match demands, whilst observed differences in workloads between winning and losing can provide insight into outcome-oriented conditioning for each position.

text: Offence vs defence: Quantifying workload demands in professional Rugby Union Title: Offence vs defence: Quantifying workload demands in professional Rugby Union.
Purpose: Rugby Union is a skill-based contact team sport demanding high levels of physical and tactical skill. Ensuring that training matches the physical requirements for match-play demands is, therefore, important for success. Many factors influence the workload demands of match-play, including positional differences and the type of play (offence or defence). This thesis encloses an original and innovative study that compares the locomotive and contact workload demands of offensive and defensive ball-in-play periods for professional rugby union match-play. 
Methods: Data were collected for 40 professional Rugby Union players across 14 games in the 2021 Super Rugby season. All participants wore GPS units (Apex Pro Pod, STATSport, Newry, NIR). Each match was filmed and coded using the Sportscode video analysis software package (Sportscode 12.4.3, Sportstec, Australia), where contact metrics and type of play (offence and defence) were identified throughout the match. GPS and Sportscode data were combined in a bespoke software package. Data were analysed with the Statistical Analysis System (On-Demand for Academics, version 9.04, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA), using a generalised mixed-model procedure (Proc Glimmix) specifying a log link and a Poisson distribution that allowed for overdispersion. The effect magnitudes were assessed for 2 SD changes in predictors. 
Results: Most metrics showed small to moderate increases for forwards and backs when offence was compared to defence. Small to large decreases in locomotive metrics, and a very large increase in contacts was observed when comparing forwards to backs, on offence and defence. When the effect of match outcome was examined, small to moderate effects were observed for some metrics for forwards on defence and backs on offence. The effect of fatigue was moderate to very large across most metrics, for forwards and backs in offence and defence.
Conclusion: Offensive periods of play demanded a decisively greater workload than defensive periods of play across most metrics for forwards and backs. Additionally, there was strong evidence that backs performed greater locomotive workload but less contacts compared to forwards in both offence and defence. When winning was compared to losing, there was good evidence that backs achieved greater values for most locomotive metrics on offence, whilst forwards achieved greater values for some metrics during defence. Understanding how workload demands vary between positions and types of play can aid practitioners in effectively replicating match demands, whilst observed differences in workloads between winning and losing can provide insight into outcome-oriented conditioning for each position.

year: 2022

title: An exploration of young people's experiences of living with mental illness in Phuket

authors: Nelson, Mia

subjects: mental illness

abstract: The primary objective of this study was to explore some of the experiences of young people living in Phuket with a mental illness. Much academic material regarding mental illness is from a Western medical perspective, leaving out consideration for Eastern cultures and context. In Phuket, life is an amalgamation of both Western and Eastern cultures, and it is not possible to research one perspective without also seeing the impact of the other. To understand how ex-pats and Thai nationals experience living with mental illness in Phuket, it is important to give people an opportunity to speak about this cultural context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four young adults living in Phuket with a mental illness. Thematic analysis identified common themes including where mental illness comes from, family background, interpersonal relationships, living with a mental illness, lifestyle. Participants understood their illness as arising in part from their family background, genetic components and environmental factors. Family support as well as other interpersonal relationships were important support factors for living with mental illness. Participants expressed feeling stigma from others regarding their mental illness, which led to difficulties in school, employment, housing, and interpersonal relationships. The study found that the participants had high self-awareness regarding their mental illness, their perceptions of themselves and how others view them. It is concluded that Phuket offers the participants a positive cultural context for healing based on Thai cultural values.

text: An exploration of young people's experiences of living with mental illness in Phuket The primary objective of this study was to explore some of the experiences of young people living in Phuket with a mental illness. Much academic material regarding mental illness is from a Western medical perspective, leaving out consideration for Eastern cultures and context. In Phuket, life is an amalgamation of both Western and Eastern cultures, and it is not possible to research one perspective without also seeing the impact of the other. To understand how ex-pats and Thai nationals experience living with mental illness in Phuket, it is important to give people an opportunity to speak about this cultural context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four young adults living in Phuket with a mental illness. Thematic analysis identified common themes including where mental illness comes from, family background, interpersonal relationships, living with a mental illness, lifestyle. Participants understood their illness as arising in part from their family background, genetic components and environmental factors. Family support as well as other interpersonal relationships were important support factors for living with mental illness. Participants expressed feeling stigma from others regarding their mental illness, which led to difficulties in school, employment, housing, and interpersonal relationships. The study found that the participants had high self-awareness regarding their mental illness, their perceptions of themselves and how others view them. It is concluded that Phuket offers the participants a positive cultural context for healing based on Thai cultural values.

year: 2019

title: Ūropi Tauhokohoko Ka Taea: New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement: An Independent Assessment of the Impacts for Mãori

authors: Mika, Jason

abstract: This report, entitled Ūropi tauhokohoko ka taea, which means ‘the enabling of trade with Europe,’ represents an independent assessment of the New Zealand-European Union free trade agreement (NZ-EU FTA) commissioned by Manatū Aorere—Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) as part of a National Interest Analysis (NIA). An NIA is an important way in which parliament can be assured that international treaties, like FTAs, that Aotearoa New Zealand intends to enter into are done so with confidence about their contents and how New Zealanders are affected. As the government’s lead agency on trade policy, Manatū Aorere prepares NIAs, but the Trade for All Advisory Board suggested the need for more independent analysis. This report was prepared by an independent advisor who is familiar with the issues, having previously conducted similar work. Concluded in June 2022, the NZ-EU FTA is expected to come into force in 2024. When this happens, 91% of tariffs are immediately eliminated, with eventual tariff savings of $100m per annum adding to the $17.5 billion in two-way trade.  The purpose of this report was to assess key outcomes of the NZ-EU FTA for Māori, with a focus on aspects of strong interest to Māori, including key sectors of the Māori economy, as well as particular interests in services and investment, geographical indications, digital trade, and the Māori trade chapter. In keeping with the independent nature of this assessment, a holistic kaupapa Māori framework was devised consisting of four dimensions—te ao Māori (Māori world view), te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi), te ōhanga (economy), and te taiao (environment)—on which to frame the assessment. The assessment involved a five-stage process of whanaungatanga (relationships), whai hua (document analysis), whai rawa (modelling), whai whakaaro (interviews), and whakamārama (discussion). The assessment relied on available documents, existing modelling, and official information.  In terms of whai hua (documents), the assessment found that benefits for Māori include tariff elimination on Māori goods, the treaty exception, a Māori trade chapter, references to mātauranga Māori, treaty partner engagement, and representation on groups formed under the NZ-EU FTA. Reviewed documents indicate, however, that reservations remain about protection of Māori treaty rights, the softening of benefits to Māori because of pre-existing vulnerabilities, and the size of Māori economic gains. Under whai rawa (economy), while the NZ-EU FTA is forecast to add $1.4 billion to Aotearoa New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) annually, the Māori economy’s share of this gain is unknown. By emulating existing modelling, the economic impact for Māori is estimated to range from NZ$80 million (low) to NZ$150 million (high) in real GDP accruing to the Māori economy as a result of the NZ-EU FTA, with $110 million per annum the most likely scenario. This assumes an 8% growth rate in the Māori economy. Distributional effects were not assessed. Under whai whakaaro (interviews with 26 individuals), the assessment found that three of the four treaty partners (Federation of Māori Authorities, Te Taumata, Iwi Chairs Forum) were buoyant about the prospects for Māori trade with the European Union (EU). Ngā Toki Whakarururanga in their assessment identified limitations in the level of protection of Māori treaty rights and the efficacy of the treaty exception. They also desire tiriti-based negotiation. Officials provided candid reflections on the NZ-EU FTA outcomes for Māori, which are included here. Implementation success will depend on continued treaty partner engagement, adequate resourcing of the same, Māoricentred trade facilitation, and advancing domestic policy work to protect Māori treaty rights in the NZ-EU FTA.

text: Ūropi Tauhokohoko Ka Taea: New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement: An Independent Assessment of the Impacts for Mãori This report, entitled Ūropi tauhokohoko ka taea, which means ‘the enabling of trade with Europe,’ represents an independent assessment of the New Zealand-European Union free trade agreement (NZ-EU FTA) commissioned by Manatū Aorere—Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) as part of a National Interest Analysis (NIA). An NIA is an important way in which parliament can be assured that international treaties, like FTAs, that Aotearoa New Zealand intends to enter into are done so with confidence about their contents and how New Zealanders are affected. As the government’s lead agency on trade policy, Manatū Aorere prepares NIAs, but the Trade for All Advisory Board suggested the need for more independent analysis. This report was prepared by an independent advisor who is familiar with the issues, having previously conducted similar work. Concluded in June 2022, the NZ-EU FTA is expected to come into force in 2024. When this happens, 91% of tariffs are immediately eliminated, with eventual tariff savings of $100m per annum adding to the $17.5 billion in two-way trade.  The purpose of this report was to assess key outcomes of the NZ-EU FTA for Māori, with a focus on aspects of strong interest to Māori, including key sectors of the Māori economy, as well as particular interests in services and investment, geographical indications, digital trade, and the Māori trade chapter. In keeping with the independent nature of this assessment, a holistic kaupapa Māori framework was devised consisting of four dimensions—te ao Māori (Māori world view), te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi), te ōhanga (economy), and te taiao (environment)—on which to frame the assessment. The assessment involved a five-stage process of whanaungatanga (relationships), whai hua (document analysis), whai rawa (modelling), whai whakaaro (interviews), and whakamārama (discussion). The assessment relied on available documents, existing modelling, and official information.  In terms of whai hua (documents), the assessment found that benefits for Māori include tariff elimination on Māori goods, the treaty exception, a Māori trade chapter, references to mātauranga Māori, treaty partner engagement, and representation on groups formed under the NZ-EU FTA. Reviewed documents indicate, however, that reservations remain about protection of Māori treaty rights, the softening of benefits to Māori because of pre-existing vulnerabilities, and the size of Māori economic gains. Under whai rawa (economy), while the NZ-EU FTA is forecast to add $1.4 billion to Aotearoa New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) annually, the Māori economy’s share of this gain is unknown. By emulating existing modelling, the economic impact for Māori is estimated to range from NZ$80 million (low) to NZ$150 million (high) in real GDP accruing to the Māori economy as a result of the NZ-EU FTA, with $110 million per annum the most likely scenario. This assumes an 8% growth rate in the Māori economy. Distributional effects were not assessed. Under whai whakaaro (interviews with 26 individuals), the assessment found that three of the four treaty partners (Federation of Māori Authorities, Te Taumata, Iwi Chairs Forum) were buoyant about the prospects for Māori trade with the European Union (EU). Ngā Toki Whakarururanga in their assessment identified limitations in the level of protection of Māori treaty rights and the efficacy of the treaty exception. They also desire tiriti-based negotiation. Officials provided candid reflections on the NZ-EU FTA outcomes for Māori, which are included here. Implementation success will depend on continued treaty partner engagement, adequate resourcing of the same, Māoricentred trade facilitation, and advancing domestic policy work to protect Māori treaty rights in the NZ-EU FTA.

year: 2023-05-05