15's demands
A rugby 15s player burns a very high number of calories during a full 80-minute match due to the sport’s blend of aerobic endurance, anaerobic sprints, high-impact collisions, and strength-based efforts like scrummaging and tackling.
Estimated Calories Burned During an 80-Minute Rugby Union Match:
- 150 lbs (68 kg), ~900–1,100 calories
- 175 lbs (79 kg), ~1,100–1,300 calories
- 200 lbs (91 kg), ~1,300–1,500 calories
- 225 lbs (102 kg), ~1,500–1,800+ calories
Calories by Position (Typical Range):
- Forwards, ~1,400–1,800+
- Backs, ~1,000–1,400
- Props/Locks, Often burn the most
- Halfbacks/Fullbacks, High variability
Key Factors Influencing Caloric Burn:
- Match intensity: High-tempo games = more energy used
- Weather conditions: Heat and humidity can increase caloric demand
- Involvement: Players more engaged in play (e.g., flankers) burn more
- Fitness level: Fitter players tend to move more, thus burning more
- Substitutions: Playing fewer than 80 minutes reduces burn accordingly
7's Demands
A rugby sevens player burns a significant number of calories in a match, despite the short duration, because of the sport’s extremely high intensity. A typical rugby sevens match consists of two 7-minute halves (14 minutes total), but players often compete in multiple matches per day during a tournament.
Estimated Calories Burned per Match (14 Minutes):
150 lbs (68 kg), ~200–250 calories
175 lbs (79 kg), ~250–300 calories
200 lbs (91 kg), ~300–350 calories
These estimates assume match-level intensity, which includes repeated sprinting, tackling, rucking, jumping, and high anaerobic output.
Calories Burned per Day in a Tournament Setting:
If a player competes in 3–4 matches in a day, they may burn:
- 600–1,400 calories from match play alone
- Additional 500–1,000 from warm-up, recovery, and walking/movement between matches
- Total: ~1,100–2,400+ calories per tournament day
Factors That Affect Burn Rate:
- Position: Forwards may burn slightly more due to collisions and repeated ruck involvements; backs may burn more from high-speed sprints.
- Work Rate: Players involved heavily in both attack and defense will burn more.
- Fitness Level: Fitter athletes can sustain higher work rates, increasing caloric expenditure.
