Impact of professionalism on injuries in rugby union

Abstract

Objectives-To measure the frequency and nature of injuries occurring in competitive matches since professionalism was introduced in rugby union. Methods-The cohort study previously conducted in players from senior rugby clubs in the Scottish Borders in 1993-1994 when rugby union was an entirely amateur sport was repeated in 1997-1998. The same injury definition, outcome criteria, and method of calculating playing hours were used. In total, 803 (84%) of 960 eligible players participated, including all 30 adult players who played professionally for the Scottish Rugby Union or Border Reivers District. The 576 injury episodes in 381 of these players in competitive matches were compared with the 373 injuries in 266 players out of 975 (94 %) who were eligible and registered with the same senior rugby clubs in 1993-1994. Outcomes were the occurrence of injury episodes, days away from playing or training for rugby, and time lost to employment or attendance at school/ college as a consequence of being injured. Results-The proportion of players who were injured almost doubled from 1993-1994 to 1997-1998, despite an overall reduction of 7% of the playing strength of participating clubs. Period prevalence injury rates rose in all age specific groups, particularly in younger players. This translated into an injury episode every 3.4 matches in 1993-94, rising to one in every 2.0 matches in 1997-1998. An injury episode occurred in a professional team for every 59 minutes of competitive play. Professional players sustained a higher proportion of recurrent injuries, particularly in the early part of the season. Some 56% of all their days lost to the game were caused by injuries to the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the knee, hip, and thigh. Conclusions-The introduction of professionalism in rugby union has coincided with an increase in injuries to both professional and amateur players. To reduce this, attention should be focused on the tackle, where many injuries occur. The International Rugby Board should place a moratorium on the use of protective equipment in competitive matches until its contribution to player morbidity has been fully assessed. (Br J Sports Med 2000;34:348-351)

The impact of the 21st century on rugby injuries

“…This work has now been substantiated in detail by Garraway et al 30 who studied rugby injuries of all varieties (not broken necks). Garraway et al 30 studied players from senior rugby clubs in the Scottish Borders in 1993 ± 94 when rugby union was entirely amateur and again in 1997 ± 98 when the game had turned professional in the same clubs in the borders of Scotland (Table 3).…”

“…The penalties for accepting the ®nancial and other rewards accompanying professionalism in rugby union appear to include a major increase in player morbidity. Garraway et al 30 were of the opinion that professional rugby union produced higher injury rates than professional rugby league because tackles come in at greater force. This is not in accordance with my own ®gures and those derived from the Rugby League.…”

Effect of a prevention programme on the incidence of rugby injuries among 15- and 16-year-old schoolboys

“…3,12,28 The tendency for an unacceptable increase in the rate of injuries is also visible at South African school level. 13,24 The question has already been asked if the elite senior school player has the anthropometric composition, physical and motor abilities, as well as sport-specific skills demanded by the modern game.…”

Training volume and injury incidence in a professional rugby union team

“…Professional rugby players sustain considerably more injuries than amateur players, 3,6,8 probably as a result of the greater size of the players, the faster pace at which the game is played, and the greater impact forces associated with these changes.…”

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Rugby union is a team sport involving contact and collision of players running at fast speeds, 1 and consequently has a high injury rate.

2Since the advent of professionalism in rugby union in October 1995 [3][4][5] professional players have become full-time athletes, with a greater emphasis on training for strength, speed and stamina, 6 increase in size, 5,7 speed and power, 4,5 and improvement in rugby skills.

3Professional rugby players sustain considerably more injuries than amateur players, 3,6,8 probably as a result of the greater size of the players, the faster pace at which the game is played, and the greater impact forces associated with these changes.

3,9,10The Super 14 (previously the Super 12) is a popular professional rugby tournament between regional sides from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Since the inception of this tournament, professional rugby union players have played significantly more rugby matches each year.

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