Talent identification in pathway rugby league: A systematic review examining differentiators of skill levels for male and female players

Rugby league is a physically demanding sport that requires players to execute skilled motor actions in dynamic game situations. Identifying the key characteristics that differentiate successful players across competition levels is crucial for effective talent identification and development (TID). Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to synthesize current research on the physical, technical and tactical characteristics that reportedly distinguish pathway rugby league players across different competition levels, with a secondary aim to evaluate whether female players are adequately represented within this evidence base. Electronic database and manual searches conducted yielded 2153 records. 19 studies, with 1581 athletes, inclusive of 519 elite, 695 highly trained and 367 developing rugby league players, satisfied the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The results highlight that maximal strength and power emerge as significant differentiators, underscoring the potential importance of these attributes in athlete development. However, inconsistencies in testing protocols for speed, agility and aerobic fitness created challenges when comparing across studies and for task representativeness. Notably, technical and tactical skills, such as tackling and decision-making, remain underexplored. The review also identifies a prominent sex gap in the literature, with the majority of existing research exclusively focused on male players. This lack of representation calls for targeted research into the attributes of female pathway rugby league players to inform TID frameworks with relevant, evidenced-based data. Future research should prioritise standardised assessments, explore technical and tactical skill differences between skill level, and increase focus on female players to enhance evidence-based athlete development within pathway rugby league.