Purpose Researchers have suggested that most sports science data have been derived from studies with men as participants, reducing the application of these data to women athletes due to physiological differences between the sexes. This systematic review aimed to evaluate, using science, the influence of sex on study methodologies investigating physiological performance in 15 s Rugby (RU) female student-athletes. Furthermore, we summarise the importance of physiological differences between the sexes required for each topic of applied sports medicine and sports science in RU women student-athletes. Methods Electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed-MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus-EBSCOhost) were searched following the PRISMA guidelines in May 2024 for original studies using validated and reliable physiological performance variables in RU female student-athletes, mean age between 20 and 21 years and a range of 18 and 23 years. The Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine guidelines and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database were used to evaluate quality and risk of bias. Results Three reviewed studies were of moderate quality and two of poor quality, with low-to-high risk of bias, respectively, and no physiological differences were considered based on sex. Conclusions Besides the scarcity of data, considerable heterogeneity in the study methodology investigating performance in RU women student-athletes has made performance interpretations challenging for practitioners and researchers. Attention to the issues of physiological differences based on sex (controlling for `sex hormones`, iron deficiency, and fatigue status), using a standardised methodology and outcome reporting will facilitate reliable interpretation of physiological assessment results.
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