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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of variations in the alignment of the feet on scrum kinetics during machine scrummaging. Twenty nine rugby forwards from amateur-level teams completed maximal scrum efforts against an instrumented scrum machine, with the feet in parallel and non-parallel positions. Three-dimensional forces, the moment about the vertical axis and sagittal plane joint angles were measured during the sustained pushing phase. There was a decrease in the magnitude of the resultant force and compression force in both of the non-parallel conditions compared to parallel and larger compression forces were associated with more extended hip and knee angles. Scrummaging with the left foot forward resulted in the lateral force being directed more towards the left and the turning moment becoming more clockwise. These directional changes were reversed when scrummaging with the right foot forward. Scrummaging with the right foot positioned ahead of the left may serve to counteract the natural clockwise wheel of the live scrum and could be used to achieve an anti-clockwise rotation of the scrum for tactical reasons. However, this would be associated with lower resultant forces and a greater lateral shear force component directed towards the right.

Schwellnus, M.P. et al. (2018). Match injury incidence during the Super Rugby tournament is high : a prospective cohort study over five seasons involving 93 641 player-hours. Abstract: Objectives To determine the incidence and nature of injuries in the Super Rugby tournament over a 5-year period. Methods 482 male professional rugby union players from six South African teams participating in the Super Rugby tournament were studied (1020 player-seasons). Medical staff of participating teams (2012-2016 tournaments) recorded all time loss injuries (total injuries and match injuries) and exposure hours (93 641 total playing hours; 8032 match hours). Injury incidence, injured player proportion, severity (time lost), anatomical location, tissue type and activity/phase during which injury occurred are reported.Results The overall incidence of match injuries (per 1000 player-hours; 95% CI) for each year was as follows:

This study determined the effects of a six-week lower-limb wearable resistance training (WRT) intervention on sprint running time, velocity, and horizontal force-velocity mechanical variables. Twentytwo collegiate/semi-professional rugby athletes completed pre-and post-intervention testing of three maximal effort 30 m sprints. A radar device was used to measure sprint running velocity from which horizontal force-velocity mechanical profiling variables were calculated. All athletes completed two dedicated sprint training sessions a week for six-weeks during pre-season. The intervention (wearable resistance, WR) group completed the sessions with 1% body mass load attached to the left and right shanks (i.e. 0.50% body mass load on each limb), whilst the control group completed the same sessions unloaded. For the control group, all variables were found to detrain significantly (p ≤ 0.05) over the training period with large detraining effects (ES > 0.80) for theoretical maximal horizontal force, slope of the force-velocity profile, maximal ratio of force, index of force application, 5 m and 10 m times. For the WR group, there were no significant changes to any recorded variables (all p > 0.05) and all effects of training were trivial or small (ES < 0.50). After adjustment for baseline differences, significant between group differences were found for all variables (large effects, ES > 0.80) except theoretical maximal velocity, 30 m time, and maximal velocity. The addition of light wearable resistance to sprint training during a six-week pre-season block enables the maintenance of sprint performance and mechanical output qualities that otherwise would detrain due to inadequate training frequencies.

BACKGROUND: Medical illnesses and sports-related injuries both have an effect on athlete health and performance. Epidemiology of injury and illness has been extensively researched during international football tournaments and the European football season. Reports on injury location and severity differ across geographical regions, and there is limited information on injury epidemiology in African football leagues. No studies have investigated the illness burden in football in Africa.METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study involving two football teams over the 10month duration of the 2015/16 Premier Soccer League in South Africa. Team medical staff recorded daily football exposure, illness and injuries. Team-based match and training exposure was calculated and used to determine injury and illness incidence and burden over the football season.RESULTS: Overall injury incidence was 2.2 / 1000 h, with match injury incidence of 24.8 / 1000 h and training injury incidence of 0.9 / 1000 h. Time loss injuries accounted for 33 of the 44 injuries recorded. The most common time loss injury location was the knee ( 14injuries, 42%). There were 7 minimal, 4 mild, 12 moderate and 10 severe injuries. Sprain/ligament injury (8 injuries) was the most common type, followed by meniscus/cartilage injury (7 injuries). Eleven illnesses were reported during the season, with an incidence of 0.7 / 1000 player days, and most were minimal in severity (8/11). The illness burden was 1.7 / 1000 player days. The respiratory (46%) and gastrointestinal (36%) systems were most commonly affected. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of injury was comparable with data reported internationally and mirrors the increased risk of injury during matches versus training. The nature of injury differed in that the knee was more frequently affected than the ankle or thigh, joint injuries were more common than muscle injuries, and there was a larger proportion of severe injuries.The illness burden was very low.