Injuries in Elite Men’s Rugby Union: An Updated (2012–2020) Meta-Analysis of 11,620 Match and Training Injuries

Abstract

Background The most recent meta-analytic review of injuries in elite senior men’s Rugby Union was published in 2013. The demands of the game at the elite level are continually changing alongside law amendments and developments in player preparation. As such, an updated meta-analysis of injury data in this setting is necessary. Objective To meta-analyse time-loss injury data in elite senior men’s Rugby Union between 2012 and 2020. Methods Electronic databases were searched using the keywords ‘rugby’ and ‘inj*’. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Injury incidence rate data were modelled using a mixed-effects Poisson regression model. Days missed data were modelled using a general linear mixed model. Results The included data encompassed a total of 8819 match injuries and 2801 training injuries. The overall incidence rate of injuries in matches was 91 per 1000 h (95% confidence interval (CI) 77–106). The estimated mean days missed per match injury was 27 days (95% CI 23–32). The overall incidence rate of match concussions was 12 per 1000 h (95% CI 9–15). The overall incidence rate of training injuries was 2.8 per 1000 h (95% CI 1.9–4.0). Playing level was not a significant effect modifier for any outcome. Conclusions The injury incidence rate and mean days missed per injury in the present meta-analysis were higher, but statistically equivalent to, the 2013 meta-analysis (81 per 1000 h and 20 days, respectively). The injury incidence rate for match injuries in elite senior men’s Rugby Union is high in comparison to most team sports, though the training injury incidence rate compares favourably. The tackle event and concussion injuries should continue to be the focus of future preventative efforts.

SA Rugby Injury and Illness Surveillance and Prevention Project (SARIISPP): The Carling Currie Cup Premiership Competition Injury Surveillance Report 2021

“…The injury rates are expressed as the mean (95% confidence interval) per 1000 player hours. The injury rate of Time-Loss injuries for the Carling Currie Cup 2021 was 89 (74 to 104) injuries per 1000 player hours which is similar to the international rate of 91 (77 to 106) injuries per 1000 player hours [1], and within the expected limits of season-to-season variation for the Carling Currie Cup. This equates to 1.8 injuries per team per match and an injury burden of 1935 days lost per 1000 player hours.…”

Tackling sport-related concussion: effectiveness of lowering the maximum legal height of the tackle in amateur male rugby – a cross-sectional analytical study

“…The RFU's six-season study (2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015) in English community rugby 31 reported an overall time-loss (eight or more missed days) injury incidence of 22.3 injuries/1000 player match hours (95% CI: 20.5 to 24.1). By comparison, a meta-analysis 5 of studies conducted in senior professional rugby reported an overall injury incidence of 91 injuries/1000 player hours. Furthermore, the England Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project (PRISP), 4 the most comprehensive and longest running injury surveillance project in professional rugby union, reported an overall injury incidence rate of 87 injuries/1000 player hours.…”

Protect the Player, Protect the Game: Reflections from Ex-Professional Rugby Union Players on Law Changes, Protective Equipment, and Duty of Care in the Professional Game

“…Rucks and rucking involve high-speed collisions to “clean out” opposition players. This translates into highly athletic players accelerating into impacts using a large amount of physical strength and force to remove opposing players, which translates to an increase in injury risk [ 29 ].…”