ABSTRACT: Mason, BRJ, McKune, AJ, Pumpa, KL, Mara, JK, Kilduff, LP, and Ball, NB. The effect of a high load resistance priming intervention on perceptual, physiological, and performance markers in female rugby union players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-This study investigated the effects of a high load resistance priming session on perceptual, physiological, and performance responses in female rugby athletes. Using a randomized counter-balanced crossover design, 10 highly trained female rugby players (mean ± standard deviation: age 23.4 ± 3.7 years; height 172.1 ± 4.7 cm; mass 86.7 ± 13.9 kg) completed a resistance priming session and control condition. Perceptual and physiological variables were collected at baseline (PRE), immediately post (POST), and 120 minutes post (POST120) intervention, with performance compared between conditions at POST120. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models within the Bayesian framework. Compared with PRE, the priming protocol had a larger increase in physical readiness (maximum a posteriori MAP = 14.6, 95% high-density intervals HDI = -3.4 to 30.4, PD % = 94, % in region of practical equivalence ROPE = 9.9) at POST than the control with no differences between conditions at POST120. There were no meaningful differences between the priming and control conditions for salivary testosterone, cortisol, or the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio at any time points. Priming led to a lower countermovement jump (CMJ) relative peak power output MAP = -3.2, 95% HDI = -6.7 to -0.2, % in ROPE = 3.9) than the control condition at POST120. There were no meaningful differences in CMJ height, isometric mid-thigh pull relative or absolute force, or 5, 10, or 20 m sprint times between the priming and control conditions at POST120. These findings suggest that high load resistance training may not be an effective strategy to improve performance and readiness 2 hours later in female rugby players.
Mason et al. (Mon,) studied this question.