Dr Dave Holymard and Rex Hazeldine from Loughborough University, England, have investigated the seasonal variation in the fitness characteristics of international rugby players. They studied eighteen players from the English National rugby squad over a 12-month period. Players undertook a series of physiological and anthropometrical tests during National squad training sessions at the end of a season (April), carl) off-season (June), pre-season (September) and mid-season (January).