The Real Science of Sport Podcast

Women's World Cup Culmination / Ryder Cup Drama / CAS Dismisses Contaminated Meat Defence

Oct 2, 2025
Explore the fascinating evolution of player physiques in AFL and rugby, highlighting how professionalism has transformed these sports. Delve into the rapid development of women's rugby, alongside England's dominance at the World Cup. Get insights on the Ryder Cup drama, including crowd behavior and strategic analytics. The discussion also touches on controversial CAS decisions regarding athlete defenses and the alarming rise in ACL injuries, all underscored by a critical look at cycling's recent world championships.
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INSIGHT

Game Demands Drive Athlete Evolution

  • Sport tactics shape athlete physiology: coaches design play style which then determines the physical traits teams recruit and train for.
  • Ross Tucker argues form follows function: the game drives player conditioning and evolution.
INSIGHT

Rapid Evolution In Women's Rugby

  • Women's rugby is accelerating faster than men's because it can use existing institutional knowledge from professional men's systems.
  • Ross Tucker warns investment gaps may hyper-accelerate some nations and widen inequalities.
INSIGHT

Investment Explains England's Dominance

  • England's women's team dominates due to long-term investment in contracts, scouting and feeder systems.
  • Their sustained high margins (averaging ~50–12) show structural advantage, not a single-tournament anomaly.
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