Despite its duration, the key actions in rugby are of a high intensity, (scrumming, tackling, lineout jumping and lifting), all require a high degree of force and power production.

This combination of high intensity actions, an extended playing period, and physical contact mean that there is a high level of physical fatigue after a game of rugby.

These combinations also mean that fatigue following a rugby game involves all four physical fatigue types, namely:

• Physiological fatigue
  Fatigue associated with the energy systems and associated metabolic by products.