The effects of a 6-week in-season Olympic/resistance training program versus a 6-week plyometric/resistance training program in collegiate club rugby union players

The purpose of this study was to investigate an in-season strength program and the effects of additional Olympic lifts versus Plyometric jumps on vertical jump, broad jump, and 40-meter sprint performance in collegiate club rugby players. This was a 6-week training program where the athletes lifted two times a week in their respective groups. Thirty-one collegiate club rugby players started this program but only 24 finished (Olympic/resistance group, N = 13; Plyometric/resistance group, N = 11). At the beginning and end of the 6-week training program all participants were pre- and post-tested in the vertical jump, broad jump, and 40-meter sprint. The results of this study concluded that there were no significant statistical changes (P < 0.05) within or between either groups in the vertical or broad jump. The data did reveal a significant statistical difference within each respective group for the 40-meter (Oly p = 0.01; Plyo = 0.02) sprint but no significance was found between the two groups for the 40-meter sprint. Further research should be conducted using similar testing protocols that are found in other researched literature; of which, the present researcher did not have access to. Researching off- and pre-season in this population would also be recommended to see the carryover into the competitive season of club rugby.