Episode 140 of the Institute of Performance Nutrition‘s We Do Science podcast! In this episode, I (Laurent Bannock) discuss Rugby League: Nutritional and Energetic Considerations with Dr James Morehen PhD (Liverpool John Moores University, UK).

Discussion topics include:

• Overview of Rugby League
• Growing, building and repairing elite rugby players: the performance nutritionists perspective
• Physical demands of a Rugby League player
• Body composition and function in Rugby
• Energy expenditure: from lab to pitch
• Muscle soreness and inflammation: exploring the causes and the solutions
• Nutrition considerations for rugby league: science to practice

Key paper(s) discussed / referred to:

• GROWING, BUILDING AND REPAING ELITE RUGBY PLAYERS: Nutritional and Energetic Considerations
• Position specific differences in the anthropometric characteristics of elite European Super League rugby players
• The Assessment of Total Energy Expenditure During a 14-day ‘In-Season’ Period of Professional Rugby League Players Using the Doubly Labelled Water Method
• Muscle glycogen utilisation during Rugby match play: Effects of pre-game carbohydrate
• Metabolic demands and replenishment of muscle glycogen after a rugby league match simulation protocol