Thinking differently about rugby performance: The relationship between cognitive functioning and on-field performance

Abstract

Expert performance in sport depends on physiological, technical, emotional, and cognitive domains. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the measures of cognition (memory capacity, attention and behavioural tasks, sensory-motor functioning, verbal tasks, executive functioning and emotion identification) and on-field performance [as determined by the key performance indicators (KPIs)] of university-level rugby players. A group of 25 male university-level rugby players were recruited from a South African University’s Rugby Institute squad who participated in the Varsity Cup Tournament (VCT). The players’ cognitive functioning was measured using the WebNeuro Sport, developed by the BRC, which consists of seven measuring scales. The cognition scale was used for further analysis. To quantify the players’ on-field performance, the KPIs of each player were determined for each game by using the technical analysis software, Stratus. Results indicated that the tight five forwards’ sensorymotor ability might contribute to the number of carries the players perform during attacking play. The loose forwards’ showed a positive correlation between total contribution and emotion identification. For the backs, medium to strong positive correlations exit between emotion identification and total attacking contribution, passes as well as kicks. Therefore, effective pattern recognition ability and associated quick decision-making might be important cognitive functions for backline players as well as loose forwards.

Keywords: Cognitive functioning, neuropsychology, performance, performance indicators, Rugby union, sport psychology