Virgile Merlen is a sport scientist working in professional rugby union with Aviron Bayonnais Rugby in the French Top 14. He is currently completing a PhD in sports science, focusing on cumulative fatigue monitoring, recovery kinetics, and the use of field-based performance data to support decision-making in elite rugby. His work combines applied sport science, GPS tracking, force plate testing, neuromuscular profiling, and athlete monitoring to better understand how training and match demands influence fatigue, recovery, and readiness. He has a particular interest in advanced monitoring methods. Within the club setting, Virgile works closely with performance, medical, and coaching staff to translate complex data into practical insights that can inform training prescription and player management. His research aims to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and the daily constraints of elite rugby performance.
