Player profiling is commonly used within youth rugby union (RU) to assess a range of factors for talent identification and development purposes (Dimundo et al., 2021, Journal of Expertise, 4, 33-55). However, profiling typically focusses on physical characteristics, despite the multidisciplinary nature of talent identification and development (Dimundo et al., 2021, Journal of Expertise, 4, 33-55). This three-part study aimed to establish the most common factors for profiling in male rugby union, identify factors to profile within youth male rugby union, and consider the importance and feasibility of profiling these factors. Part one employed a systematic scoping review. For part two, seven expert practitioners participated in a Nominal Group Technique session to identify the factors to profile within youth male rugby union players. Part three included twenty practitioners from a Tier One rugby nation and nine researchers, who ranked their agreement for the importance of the identified factors, and the feasibility of their measurement. With institutional ethics approval, the review identified 107 studies profiling 50 factors in male rugby union players, across five higher order themes: physical (n = 67), demographic (n = 25), psychological (n = 20), technical (n = 20), and tactical (n = 6). Expert practitioners reported an additional 20 factors that should be profiled. Over 70% of survey participants agreed that 40 factors were important for male youth rugby union player pathway progression and 28 factors were feasible to measure. Only 16 factors reached 70% agreement for both importance and feasibility. Factors from across all six themes were consid ered important, re-emphasising the need for wider use of multi dimensional profiling within youth male rugby union. The results from this study are being used to aid the development of a multidimensional profiling tool for use within a longitudinal study.
© Copyright 2024 BASES Conference 2024. All rights reserved.