Characteristic of 3D Body Shape among Rugby Players

― Comparison with Student and Top-league Players and Ordinary Male ―

Abstract

In order to clarify the difference in body shape among ordinary males, top-league rugby players and university student rugby players, we classified their body shape based on three-dimensional (3D) measurement data. Subjects were 100 ordinary men aged 20-35 years, 50 top-league rugby players and 50 university student rugby players. Homologous models of each subject were created from the 3D measurement data. Principal component analysis was performed on the vertex coordinates of the homologous models, and cluster analysis was performed using the principal component scores of the four extracted principal components. About 50% of the ordinary males were categorized into clusters with relatively slender trunk, round back, and small chest protrusion. About 80% of the top-league players were classified into two clusters with a lean neck, well-developed chest, and tight waist. The student players had high frequencies of occurrence of specific clusters. Top-league rugby players had a unique body shape, but some ordinary men and student players had a similar body shape as that of top-league rugby players.