Study author calling for rugby bodies to protect players more

Rugby authorities should do more to prevent injuries, the authors of a new study into retired players has found.

The researchers, led by Durham University’s sport and exercise scientists, say both union and league codes should be stepped up to prevent recurrent injuries, and do more to help players after their careers end.

Concussion was the most common injury among rugby players, with most suffering at least one incident during their career, the study found.

The survey also found both elite and amateur ex-players reporting back pain and severe and regular joint pain, which they blamed on the long-term impact of cumulative injury.

About half of all players had sustained a knee ligament injury, with one in four still experiencing problems.

Osteoarthritis, in which joints become painful and stiff, was twice as common among elite rugby players compared with athletes playing non-contact sports, and was associated with previous injuries and surgery.

The findings, published in the journal Sports Medicine, come after the Rugby World Cup in Japan saw a number of issues, with high tackles and dangerous play leading to injuries.

Project leader Dr Karen Hind, from Durham University’s department of sport and exercise sciences, said: “It is clear playing rugby is associated with lasting impacts in terms of injury and pain.

“Although there have been initiatives and rule changes to try to make the game safer, the rates of injury across a player’s entire career are still very high.

“The game is now also faster and players are bigger than they used to be so the impacts are greater.

“Many of the ex-players who took part in this study competed in rugby more than a decade ago when the sport was more about evasion.

“The injury levels for these individuals are up to nine-fold higher than for former non-contact athletes of a similar age.

“What we need to consider is the game today is more about players running through opponents.”