Morning Appointment Time Rather Than Training Load Affects Sleep During a Training Camp in Young Elite Rugby Union Players

This investigation aimed to evaluate sleep of young rugby union players during a 10‐day training camp accounting for the potential influence of prior daily training load and the morning appointment time. Twenty‐six elite male under‐20 rugby union players were monitored each day during a 10‐day training camp including two exhibitions matches. Sleep‐wake patterns and sleep architecture were assessed using actigraphy and a reduced‐montage dry‐electroencephalographic headband device, respectively. Training load and perceived wellness were, respectively, evaluated using GPS trackers and 10‐score visual analogue scales. The prevalence of nights with sleep duration < 7 h, wake after sleep onset > 40 min and sleep efficiency < 85% was 30.3%, 77.8% and 43.4%, respectively. Every 100‐m increase in high‐speed running distance increased sleep duration ( β = +4.9 min, p < 0.05) and reduced the number of sleep stage shifts ( β = −1.1, p < 0.05). The shortest sleep duration (06:52 ± 00:34 h) occurred on the day of Match 1, when the morning appointment was the earliest, that is, 7:30. Sleep duration (−19.3 min, p = 0.01) and efficiency (−2.2%, p < 0.01) were impaired when the morning appointment was scheduled at 8:30 compared to 8:00. This study supports that the training camp is a vulnerable period for sleep, but a controlled, non‐excessive training load promotes sleep quantity and continuity of sleep architecture. The organisational aspects of the camp strongly influence the sleep‐wake patterns. Coaches should be aware of the putative impact of earlier and/or unusual morning appointment times on sleep, especially in proximity to a match.