PRODUCTION AND EFFICIENCY IN TEAM SPORTS - AN INVESTIGATION OF RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL

In this paper we attempt to formulate a production function for rugby league football using 'true' input data in the form of performance inf luencing variables, as well as performance-related inputs. We identify those factors that contribute to team success and empirically estimat e their effect using data for professional rugby league clubs competin g in England. On the basis of computed residuals we also identify thos e teams shown to be relatively efficient and inefficient given their a vailable resources.