Dr. Biol., Professor A.S. Radchenko¹
PhD, Associate Professor V.V. Fursov²
PhD, Professor N.V. Kolesnikov^3
1St. Petersburg University Humanities and Social Sciences, St. Petersburg
²Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sports and Health, St. Petersburg
³North-Western Institute of Management – branch of the RANEPA, St. Petersburg

Abstract
Objective of the study was to identify the possibilities of using hypoxic training (HT) in the special training of the rugby team, to study the effect of normobaric HT on the functional readiness of rugby players.
Methods and structure of the study. The study involved 24 people, of which 12 participants made up the experimental group (EG) and 12 people - the control group (CG). The program of hypoxic training in the EG began with the stage of interval hypoxic preconditioning (HP). Hypoxic preconditioning consisted of five-minute intervals of breathing at rest with air with a fraction of oxygen (FIO2) = 0.1, alternating with five-minute intervals of breathing with atmospheric air – six repetitions within one hour (5x5). HP sessions were held two to three times a week. The total number of HP sessions was 20-22 over two months. When breathing through a mask, a hypoxicator MAG-20 (Higher Peak, USA) was used. After 10-12 sessions, exercises on a bicycle ergometer were added to the HP sessions, also under conditions of hypoxia. Hypoxic preconditioning consisted of six repetitions of a five-minute breath of air with an O2 fraction (FIO2) of 0.1, alternated with a five-minute breath of atmospheric air, two to three times a week. After 10-12 HP sessions, hypoxic training was added on a bicycle ergometer under hypoxic conditions, FIO2–0.156–0.145 in the inhaled air. Further, in the training process, one or two sessions of HP and one HT were performed - muscle work on a bicycle ergometer with a gradual increase in the pace of pedaling and a special rugby player's exercise – per week.
Results and conclusions. For two months in the EG, V̇O2max significantly increased – 56.1±12.2 – 63.4±5.5 ml/kg/min (p<0.01); PWC170 – 1689 ± 4,6 - 1898 ± 5,6 kgm/min (р<0.01); RSA – 777±8.6 - 868±5.9 m (p<0.01). Only the level of PWC170 increased significantly in the CG – 1700 ± 2,8 - 1810 ± 2,2 kgm/min (р<0.02). V̇O2max, RSA – increased insignificantly – 56.5±11.16 - 58.6±0.1 ml/kg/min (р<0.7); 780±5.86 – 804±17.9 m (р<0.8), respectively. Thus, hypoxic training increased the endurance level of the team. The usefulness of the use of HT during basic training has been demonstrated. There is no increase in the total time spent in the training program for the development of endurance.

Keywords: hypoxic training, rugby testing, rugby players performance.

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