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Game Aspects of Sevens Rugby at World Top-level in Recent Years:
Examination through Comparison with Fifteen-a-side Rugby [Received October 24, 2011 ; Accepted January 5, 2012] The purpose of this study was to analyze the world top-level matches after 2009 and to clarify the characteristic of game aspects of sevens rugby through the comparison with 15-a-side rugby game. The main results showing the feature of sevens rugby game were as follows. 1) Try scoring rate per play was higher, and all scores were occupied by the try and conversion afterwards. 2) The average out-of-play time was about 15 seconds shorter though the average in-play time was about 10 seconds shorter, so the time for recovery during the game was limited. 3) The rate of tries in the attacking area of 22m to GL was lower, while a higher value of almost one third was indicated in the own area back from 10m. 4) The rate of tries from lineout possession was lower and 10%, while a higher value of 25% was marked respectively from PK and turnover possession. 5) Frequency of occurrence of kick-off and 50m restart kick was highest in all set plays and the rate of tries from the possession was higher. These results suggested sevens rugby to be a different game from 15-a-side rugby clearly, and to have to develop the original strategy, skill, and training method of sevens. Keywords: Notational analysis, Set play frequency, In-play and out-of-play time, Scoring, Origin and location of tries |