The use of 3 or more efforts (running and contact), separated by short recovery periods, is widely used to define a 'repeated high-intensity effort' (RHIE) bout in rugby league. It has been suggested that due to fatigue, players become less effective following RHIE bouts; however, there is little evidence to support this. This study determined if physical performance is reduced after performing 1, 2, or 3 efforts with minimal recovery. Twelve semi-professional rugby league players (age 24.5 ± 2.9 years) competed in three 'off-side' small-sided games (2 x 10 min halves) with a contact bout performed every 2 min. The rules of each game were identical except for the number of contact efforts performed in each bout. Players performed 1, 2, or 3 x 5 s wrestling bouts in the single-, double- and triple-contact game, respectively. Movement demands of each game were monitored using global positioning system units. From the first to the second half, there were trivial reductions in relative distance during the single-contact game (ES = -0.13 ± 0.12), small reductions during the double-contact game (ES = -0.47 ± 0.24), and moderate reductions during the triple-contact game (ES = -0.74 ± 0.27). The present data show that running intensity is progressively reduced as the number of contact efforts per bout is increased. Targeting defensive players and forcing them to perform two or more consecutive contact efforts is likely to lead to greater reductions in running intensity. Conditioning performing multiple contact efforts whilst maintaining running intensity should therefore be incorporated into training for contact team sports.