This study quantified the match-play activity profiles of international touch rugby and different positional physical outputs in comparison with training specificity. Between November 2019 and January 2020, 82 half-matches and 173 training global positioning system data from 16 national male touch rugby players (mean ± SD: age 23.71 ± 3.90 years, height 1.73 ± 0.05 m, weight 65.38 ± 9.08 kg, touch rugby training experience 6.09 ± 3.31 years) were recorded. The distance covered by wings in half-match (1676.66 ± 444.80 m) was more than that of link (1311.35 ± 223.59 m) and middle (1383.52 ± 246.55 m) by a large effect (partial Eta2 = 0.19), which was mainly attributed to walking and jogging (< 4.00 m·s-1). Meanwhile, the middles covered more running distance (4.00-5.50 m·s-1) than other positions. No significant positional group difference was observed for distance covered >5.50 m·s-1, maximum velocity, and the ratio of acceleration and deceleration in matches. Training intensity was close to the match-play outputs only for the high-speed running distance at = 5.50 m·s-1. However, the training activity pattern consistently showed a disparity with the match-play outputs, in terms of shorter normalized training distance covered, less recovery distance covered at = 5.50 m·s-1, higher maximum velocity, and heavier weighting to acceleration in training activities. The current study highlights for the first time that in-match deceleration capacity and active recovery pacing strategy may be essential to touch rugby players. The data provided practitioners a deeper understanding of the physical demands of national touch rugby and allowed them to align the training with the match-play intensity. Key Points This study highlighted the importance of different positional demands and thus training approaches in touch rugby by showing substantial differences in the total covered distances and relative velocities performed. The heavier reliance of players on deceleration than on acceleration during matches. Practitioners should consider introducing deceleration-focused drills in addition to small-sided games, match-simulation, and tactical drills. The longer jogging distance covered in matches might reflect a need to reconsider the importance of recovery time within a training session. Coaches may integrate more match-simulated scenarios for active recovery.
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