Call for change to stem injuries

ENGLISH rugby’s head of medicine admits the game may face big changes in order to address an alarming rise in severity of injuries.

RFU injury statistics from 2017-18 show that while the frequency of match injuries is lower than the previous season, return-to-play times have climbed for a second year and now stand at 37 days.

As a result, the overall burden of match injury – a combination of both incidence and severity – now stands at the highest level since Twickenham began records in 2002.

“The data suggests more significant changes to the game might be needed to reverse these trends,” said RFU medical services director Simon Kemp.

Training ground casualties are a concern with the frequency of injury remaining stable but severity also climbing to its highest recorded level of 37 days.

In total, 38 per cent of all injuries were incurred during training with concussion the most frequent injury in fullcontact sessions.

The data is for the English game – the Premiership, European matches and Tests – but the report also gives figures for injuries sustained at England training under Eddie Jones, which show that there has been a significant increase since he took over from Stuart Lancaster.

RFU acting chief executive Nigel Melville said: “We did recognise a problem and think the situation has improved by working with the coaches and the conditioners.”