Touch rugby players run up $4.3m bill
Thousands of Auckland touch rugby players are injuring themselves in the non-contact sport.
Of the about 29,000 competitors, there were 7761 injuries and $4.5 million in claims to ACC over the past three summers.
West Auckland-based player Javan Perez had played touch rugby socially for as long has he could remember.
The 23-year-old has previously pulled his hamstrings, calf muscles and twisted knees but his ankles were his biggest nuisance.
‘‘If I had to pick the main reason for injury, it’ll be preparation,’’ he said.
‘‘Touch can be quite a fastpaced sport with a lot of sharp, quick direction changes. If you’re not warmed up properly, things can quickly go south.’’
He said muscle stretches and a warm up before playing was crucial to side-stepping injuries.
But the New Lynn resident said stretching was rarely seen at the social level and players often pulled up with leg cramp or rolled ankles.
ACC figures revealed soft tissue-related injuries made up 86 per cent of the 7761 injuries, at a cost of $3.3m.
Fractures and dislocations followed with 524 injuries, costing about $870,000 in ACC claims.
Nearly 1500 knee injuries cost $1.6m and 1408 ankle injuries cost $722,000.
The more strange injuries were 148 to the face, 22 nose injuries, and 44 to the elbow.
‘‘If I had to pick the main reason for injury, it'll be preparation.’’
Injuries to the eye were the least common with 20.
‘‘With all that’s been said, my friends, family and I will continue to play and continue to encourage people to play,’’ Perez said.
Auckland, North Harbour and Counties made up the majority of social and competitive touch modules in Auckland.
Touch NZ data showed there were a combined 29,000 players.
COMMON BODY PART INJURIES
During Auckland summers of 2014-2016:
Knee: 1474 injuries at $1.6m to ACC. Ankle: 1408 at $722,000. Hip, upper leg, thigh: 921 at $227,000 Lower leg: 705 at $163,000. Lower back/spine: $199,000. Shoulder: 558 at $591,000.
LEADING
INJURY
Soft tissue: 6697 claims at $3.3m to ACC. Fracture/dislocation: 524 at $870,000. Laceration, puncture wound, sting: 336 at $75,000. Other (not stated): 204 at $139,000. TYPES OF