title: Maximising performance in female rugby sevens athletes

authors: Sella, Francesco Stefano

abstract: Rugby Sevens is a field-based team sport contested by two teams of seven players over two 7-minute halves. Rugby Sevens matches are played in a tournament format with teams playing five to six matches over two to three days. Since the inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the Olympic Games, there has been a growing public and scientific interest in this game worldwide. Most studies to date in Rugby Sevens have been conducted with men, with limited research involving women. Therefore, this Thesis aimed to expand the body of knowledge relative to the women’s Rugby Sevens game, with a specific focus on how to maximise performance.

Chapter 2 reviewed the existing female Rugby Sevens studies addressing the match demands (match running and physiological demands), anthropometric characteristics, and physical qualities. The review also highlighted the differences between competition levels and playing positions identified in the scientific literature. The existing research indicates greater running demands and intensities, but lower physiological responses in international than national matches. During international matches, backs demonstrated greater running demands, running intensities, and physiological responses than forwards. Overall, elite athletes were characterised by superior physical qualities compared with nonelite athletes. Furthermore, at the elite level, specific physical qualities differentiated forwards from backs.

The literature review indicated that possessing well developed physical qualities could be beneficial for on-field performance in women’s Rugby Sevens. In Chapter 3, the association between physical-test measures with various match-running and match-action measures was evaluated in 30 women’s Rugby Sevens players representing five different New Zealand Provincial Union teams. There was good evidence of positive effects of many physical-test measures on match high-intensity running. Furthermore, there was some evidence of positive effects of speed and running fitness on match total running and high intensity changes in speed, and of negative effects of maximal strength and jump height on match total running and high intensity changes in speed. There were fewer substantial associations between physical-test measures and match actions, but there was good evidence of positive effects of squat and jump height on tries scored suggesting that enhancing players’ jump height and back-squat performance could increase the likelihood of match success in women’s Rugby Sevens.

In Chapter 4, the effectiveness of two running fitness programmes on the locomotor profile of eight professional female Rugby Sevens players was investigated. Six sessions of short-interval high-intensity interval training (HIIT) led to possible improvements in maximal aerobic speed. In contrast, six sessions of long-interval HIIT had a possible negative effect on maximal aerobic speed. There were small positive changes in maximal sprinting speed following both programmes and small positive changes in the anaerobic speed reserve following the long-interval programme; however, all these changes were unclear and suggest a greater sample size is needed to get more evidence about the magnitude of these changes.

Female physiology is unique and largely influenced by the menstrual cycle. The cyclic fluctuations of endogenous sex hormones across the menstrual cycle could have implications on sport performance; however, limited research exists on this topic. Therefore, in Chapter 5, the potential effects of menstrual phase on athletic performance in four nonelite Rugby players were investigated. At a group-level, possibly greater performances were observed in the countermovement jump, drop jump, and isometric mid-thigh pull in the late luteal phase compared with the menstruation, luteal, and follicular to ovulation phases. However, large variations in responses were observed at an individual-level, suggesting that accounting for individual responses during the menstrual cycle will likely be beneficial to training prescription and interpreting performance monitoring results. Overall, this Thesis expands the literature pertaining to the women’s Rugby Sevens game and adds new knowledge to practitioners looking to maximise their athletes’ performance.

text: Maximising performance in female rugby sevens athletes Rugby Sevens is a field-based team sport contested by two teams of seven players over two 7-minute halves. Rugby Sevens matches are played in a tournament format with teams playing five to six matches over two to three days. Since the inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the Olympic Games, there has been a growing public and scientific interest in this game worldwide. Most studies to date in Rugby Sevens have been conducted with men, with limited research involving women. Therefore, this Thesis aimed to expand the body of knowledge relative to the women’s Rugby Sevens game, with a specific focus on how to maximise performance.

Chapter 2 reviewed the existing female Rugby Sevens studies addressing the match demands (match running and physiological demands), anthropometric characteristics, and physical qualities. The review also highlighted the differences between competition levels and playing positions identified in the scientific literature. The existing research indicates greater running demands and intensities, but lower physiological responses in international than national matches. During international matches, backs demonstrated greater running demands, running intensities, and physiological responses than forwards. Overall, elite athletes were characterised by superior physical qualities compared with nonelite athletes. Furthermore, at the elite level, specific physical qualities differentiated forwards from backs.

The literature review indicated that possessing well developed physical qualities could be beneficial for on-field performance in women’s Rugby Sevens. In Chapter 3, the association between physical-test measures with various match-running and match-action measures was evaluated in 30 women’s Rugby Sevens players representing five different New Zealand Provincial Union teams. There was good evidence of positive effects of many physical-test measures on match high-intensity running. Furthermore, there was some evidence of positive effects of speed and running fitness on match total running and high intensity changes in speed, and of negative effects of maximal strength and jump height on match total running and high intensity changes in speed. There were fewer substantial associations between physical-test measures and match actions, but there was good evidence of positive effects of squat and jump height on tries scored suggesting that enhancing players’ jump height and back-squat performance could increase the likelihood of match success in women’s Rugby Sevens.

In Chapter 4, the effectiveness of two running fitness programmes on the locomotor profile of eight professional female Rugby Sevens players was investigated. Six sessions of short-interval high-intensity interval training (HIIT) led to possible improvements in maximal aerobic speed. In contrast, six sessions of long-interval HIIT had a possible negative effect on maximal aerobic speed. There were small positive changes in maximal sprinting speed following both programmes and small positive changes in the anaerobic speed reserve following the long-interval programme; however, all these changes were unclear and suggest a greater sample size is needed to get more evidence about the magnitude of these changes.

Female physiology is unique and largely influenced by the menstrual cycle. The cyclic fluctuations of endogenous sex hormones across the menstrual cycle could have implications on sport performance; however, limited research exists on this topic. Therefore, in Chapter 5, the potential effects of menstrual phase on athletic performance in four nonelite Rugby players were investigated. At a group-level, possibly greater performances were observed in the countermovement jump, drop jump, and isometric mid-thigh pull in the late luteal phase compared with the menstruation, luteal, and follicular to ovulation phases. However, large variations in responses were observed at an individual-level, suggesting that accounting for individual responses during the menstrual cycle will likely be beneficial to training prescription and interpreting performance monitoring results. Overall, this Thesis expands the literature pertaining to the women’s Rugby Sevens game and adds new knowledge to practitioners looking to maximise their athletes’ performance.

year: 2022

title: Marketing as an Interaction System

authors: Varey, Richard J.

subjects: social interaction

abstract: Marketing thinkers identify concepts of relationship, interaction, and network as useful. Edgar Crane (1972) saw interaction as essential to buyer-seller decision-making. David Ford, Kristian Möller, and Håkan Håkansson followed with explanations of how marketing operates. Christian Grönroos expanded the horizon with ‘interactive marketing’. Evert Gummesson saw interaction as “active contact” and all marketing as relationships and interaction in networks. The Relationship Marketing field flourished – at least for a time.

Whilst many proponents of “interactive communication” and “social interaction” do not see the interaction concept as problematic, they focus attention on practices. I choose to re-examine both ‘interaction’ and ‘communication’, and to relate these concepts to the concepts of society and the social process we call “marketing”.

The discussion proceeds from the general perspective of humans living among others, to the specific situation of marketing in society. I examine the concept of ‘interaction’, and consider social interaction as exchange –a dialogical view of human communication. The patterning of social interaction in markets as distinct from bureaucracies, solidarity groupings, and co-operative collectives is examined.

An alternative sociological analysis of the social is compared with that of the social psychology tradition. Communication is discussed as a mode of interaction, to reveal monologic (technical) and dialogic (humanitarian) conceptions of communication prevalent in the marketing field.

Within the context of an ‘Interaction Society’, marketing is explained as a complex dynamic adaptive interaction system, revealing a conversational nature. It is proposed that interaction directs and co-ordinates, but also co-creates – ‘interactional work’ has innovative capacity.

text: Marketing as an Interaction System Marketing thinkers identify concepts of relationship, interaction, and network as useful. Edgar Crane (1972) saw interaction as essential to buyer-seller decision-making. David Ford, Kristian Möller, and Håkan Håkansson followed with explanations of how marketing operates. Christian Grönroos expanded the horizon with ‘interactive marketing’. Evert Gummesson saw interaction as “active contact” and all marketing as relationships and interaction in networks. The Relationship Marketing field flourished – at least for a time.

Whilst many proponents of “interactive communication” and “social interaction” do not see the interaction concept as problematic, they focus attention on practices. I choose to re-examine both ‘interaction’ and ‘communication’, and to relate these concepts to the concepts of society and the social process we call “marketing”.

The discussion proceeds from the general perspective of humans living among others, to the specific situation of marketing in society. I examine the concept of ‘interaction’, and consider social interaction as exchange –a dialogical view of human communication. The patterning of social interaction in markets as distinct from bureaucracies, solidarity groupings, and co-operative collectives is examined.

An alternative sociological analysis of the social is compared with that of the social psychology tradition. Communication is discussed as a mode of interaction, to reveal monologic (technical) and dialogic (humanitarian) conceptions of communication prevalent in the marketing field.

Within the context of an ‘Interaction Society’, marketing is explained as a complex dynamic adaptive interaction system, revealing a conversational nature. It is proposed that interaction directs and co-ordinates, but also co-creates – ‘interactional work’ has innovative capacity.

year: 2008

title: Keeping Chooks at Home in the Waikato:  Exploring Postcolonial, Feminist and  Kaupapa M ori Perspectives

authors: Burnett, Zavier

subjects: Chooks

abstract: This thesis considers the narratives of eight M ori chook keepers from the Waikato rohe, Aotearoa. The Waikato rohe has been selected due to its significant history of M ori horticultural and agricultural practises, including chook keeping. 

I build on the growing corpus of m tauranga about indigenous studies. Using a postcolonial, feminist and Kaupapa M ori theoretical framework, I undertook five semi-structured interviews and one focus r p  with M ori kaum tua. This thesis does not attempt to represent all M ori. There may be considerable difference between wh nau, hap  and iwi practices. However, the rangahau provides insights into the views of eight individuals and their experiences with chooks. I have also utilised Country Calendar (1970; 1977a; 1977b and 1980) episodes and children's pukapuka such as Nanny Mihi's Garden (Drewery 2002) for the purposes of discourse analysis. 

By listening to these stories, kaupapa including race, class and ethnicity emerge that affect the participants' everyday lives as chook keepers. The participants view chooks in a variety of ways. First, as a means of food production. By integrating chooks into their communities, the participants are able to provide a nutritious and low-cost kai source for themselves and their wh nau. This attempts to at least in part address their poverty problems. Second, as a hybridised P keh  and M ori kararehe. Third, as hysterical, comical, silly and helpless. I explore these issues within the broader context of colonial, neocolonial and anticolonial practices.

text: Keeping Chooks at Home in the Waikato:  Exploring Postcolonial, Feminist and  Kaupapa M ori Perspectives This thesis considers the narratives of eight M ori chook keepers from the Waikato rohe, Aotearoa. The Waikato rohe has been selected due to its significant history of M ori horticultural and agricultural practises, including chook keeping. 

I build on the growing corpus of m tauranga about indigenous studies. Using a postcolonial, feminist and Kaupapa M ori theoretical framework, I undertook five semi-structured interviews and one focus r p  with M ori kaum tua. This thesis does not attempt to represent all M ori. There may be considerable difference between wh nau, hap  and iwi practices. However, the rangahau provides insights into the views of eight individuals and their experiences with chooks. I have also utilised Country Calendar (1970; 1977a; 1977b and 1980) episodes and children's pukapuka such as Nanny Mihi's Garden (Drewery 2002) for the purposes of discourse analysis. 

By listening to these stories, kaupapa including race, class and ethnicity emerge that affect the participants' everyday lives as chook keepers. The participants view chooks in a variety of ways. First, as a means of food production. By integrating chooks into their communities, the participants are able to provide a nutritious and low-cost kai source for themselves and their wh nau. This attempts to at least in part address their poverty problems. Second, as a hybridised P keh  and M ori kararehe. Third, as hysterical, comical, silly and helpless. I explore these issues within the broader context of colonial, neocolonial and anticolonial practices.

year: 2006