ENGLAND ANAEROBIC ENDURANCE TEST

These tests are designed to measure rugby specific anaerobic performance (in terms of
distances and times of work) the ability to repeat bouts of high intensity activity with short
recovery periods.
The test criteria are :

Total time taken to complete the test

The fatigue index between first and last repetitions
Players with higher levels of anaerobic endurance will show faster overall completion
times for the test
Players with excellent speed will show good times for the first repetitions but may show
slower times overall and a higher fatigue index.

There are 2 separate tests, one for Forwards, the other for Backs.
Equipment

Marking tape
Measuring tape
Tall Marking Poles x 4 for each lane of the Forwards test, and 5 for each lane of the
Backs test
Stop watches one per tester + one for running clock
Recording sheets

Forwards Test
Procedure

Mark floor with tape X with the centre being the exact distance, place pole on the
centre of X

Players are placed in positional groups of 5 (front row as one group, locks and back
row as another group) with one tester per player with stopwatch

Each player in an allocated lane

Course is as follows :

5m

Start on
front

10m

Each set of the test is a single or multiple combination of the same basic repetition.

The basic repetition is as follows :

Player starts on his front with chest in contact with the floor with head on starting line,
behind pole

20m

He gets up and sprints out and around the pole at 5m, and runs backwards to the
start line behind the start pole - where he drops down to contact his chest with the
floor

He then gets up and sprints out and around the 10m pole and back to the start pole
(always running forwards) where he drops down and contacts chest with floor

He then gets up and sprints out and around the 20m pole and back to the start
(always running forwards).

The test format is as follows :

1 x 1 repetition

1 x 2 consecutive repetitions

1 x 2 consecutive repetitions

1 x 4 consecutive repetitions

1 x 1 repetition

The recovery time between repetitions is dictated by the time taken to complete the required
repetition(s) i.e. the start of each section is fixed on a running clock so that the faster the
completion time, the more rest the player receives.
The table below indicates the times for the running clock and the estimated range of times for
each section of the test for the Front Row and Back Five Groups.

Front Row Test

Running Clock
Time

Event

Estimated
Duration of
Repetition

Estimated End of
Event Time

Average
Rest time

Start of 1 x 1 repetition

20-25 sec

20-25 secs

20-25 secs

45

Start of 1 x 2 consecutive
repetitions

45-50 secs

1.30-1.35 mins

40-45 secs

2.15

Start of 1 x 2 consecutive
repetitions

45-52 secs

3.00-3.07 mins

53-60 secs

4.00

Start of 1 x 4 consecutive
repetitions

1.40- 2 mins

5.40- 6 mins

30-50 secs

6.30

Start of 1 x 1 repetition

22-27 secs

6.52-6.57 mins

Back Five Test

Running Clock
Time

Event

Estimated
Duration of
Repetition

Estimated End of
Event Time

Average
Rest time

Start of 1 x 1 repetition

20-25 sec

20-25 secs

20-25 secs

45

Start of 1 x 2 consecutive
repetitions

45-50 secs

1.30-1.35 mins

40-45 secs

2.15

Start of 1 x 2 consecutive
repetitions

45-52 secs

3.00-3.07 mins

53-60 secs

4.00

Start of 1 x 4 consecutive
repetitions

1.30- 1.40

5.30-5.40

35-45 secs

6.15

Start of 1 x 1 repetition

22-27 secs

6.52-6.57 mins

The time for each repetition is recorded on the sheet for the individual being measured.

One person should be made responsible for administering the running clock and for
informing players and testers of the content of the next set and the rest time to go. This
person should also give all of the start commands for the whole group.

Backs Test
Procedure

Mark floor with tape X with the centre being the exact distance, place pole on the
centre of X

Players are placed in positional groups Back of 5 with one tester per player with
stopwatch

Each player in an allocated lane

Each set of the test is a single or multiple combination of the same basic repetition.

Course is as overleaf :
Start on
front on
floor
5m

5m

5m

10m

20m

30m

The basic repetition is as follows :

Player starts on his front with chest in contact with the floor with head on starting line

He gets up and sprints out and around the pole at 5m, and runs backwards to the
start line behind the start pole - where he goes to down to contact his chest with
the floor.

He gets up and sprints again around the 5m pole, and runs backwards to the start
line behind the start pole - where he goes to down to contact his chest with the
floor.

He then gets up and sprints out and around the outside of the 10m pole, on to and
around the outside of the 20m pole, on again to the 30m pole, runs around this and
then sprints straight back to the start line.

The test format for backs is as follows :

1 x 1 repetition

1 x 1 repetition

1 x 2 consecutive repetitions

1 x 2 consecutive repetitions

1 x 2 consecutive repetitions

1 x 1 repetition

The recovery time between repetitions is dictated by the time taken to complete the required
repetition(s) i.e. the start of each section is fixed on a running clock so that the faster the
completion time, the more rest the player receives.
The table below indicates the times for the running clock and the estimated range of times for
each section of the test for the Backs test
Running Clock
Time

Event

Estimated
Duration of
Repetition

Estimated End of
Event Time

Average
Rest time

Start of 1 x 1 repetition

20-22 secs

20-22 secs

28-30 secs

50

Start of second 1 x 1
repetition

20-23 secs

1.10-1.13 mins

27-30 secs

1.40

Start of 1 x 2 consecutive
repetitions

45-55 secs

2.25-2.35 mins

45-55 secs

3.20

Start of second 1 x 2
consecutive repetitions

45-55 secs

4.05- 4.15 mins

45-55 secs

5.00

Start of second 1 x 2
consecutive repetitions

47-57 secs

5.47-5.57 mins

33-43 secs

6.30

Start of 1 x 1 repetition

20-25

6.50-6.55 mins

Backs Test

The time for each repetition is recorded on the sheet for the individual being measured.

One person should be made responsible for administering the running clock and
for informing players and testers of the content of the next set and the rest time to
go. This person should also give all of the start commands for the whole group.

Floor Layout for Anaerobic Tests

30m line - Backs

20m line Forwards

5m

Start Line

10m line Forwards

5m line both
groups

Forwards

Backs