INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have systematically reported post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) effects in specific team sports capacities after diverse conditioning activities in athletes of different sports. Specifically, recent evidence suggests the effectiveness of both plyometric and eccentric overload exercises for PAPE in team sports athletes. However, no study has verified if these conditioning activities are equally effective when looking for PAPE effects in rugby players. METHODS: Thirteen male rugby players from the Brazilian National Team performed, in randomized order, drop jumps from a height box of 45 cm (DJ45) and a Flywheel protocol. Before, 5 min and 10 min after both protocols, athletes performed two attempts of countermovement jump (CMJ), 30-m linear sprints, and the Zigzag test (change of direction, COD). RESULTS: The ANOVA did not reveal any within or between groups differences for any performance outcome (CMJ height, 10-m and 30-m sprinting times, and COD performance time). However, true change calculations revealed individual PAPE effects after one of both conditioning activities at different time points. CONCLUSION: The current study does not confirm the effectiveness of DJ45 and Flywheel conditioning activities for PAPE in jumping, sprinting and COD performances in elite rugby players as a population. Meanwhile, individual responses should be considered when looking for PAPE responses after specific conditioning activities at different time points.
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