Injuries in rugby cut by exercise scheme

INJURIES IN young rugby players could be reduced by more than 70 per cent thanks to a new 20-minute exercise programme, a study has found.

Players should complete the routine, which includes balance, strength and movement exercises, before matches and during training.

The study found overall injuries fell by 72 per cent and concussion injuries by 59 per cent when the routine was performed at least three times per week.

Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the threeyear study involved 40 schools and nearly 2,500 players aged between 14 and 18. Recommendations from the study will be rolled out nationwide by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in preparation for next season.

Researchers from the University of Bath, who led the study with the RFU, developed the new exercise programme which focuses on balance, strength and agility in order to prepare players for challenges.

Dr Mike England, community rugby director at the RFU, said: “The results are impressive and we hope that a related study showing similar effects in the adult community game will be published soon.

“The RFU plans to roll out this approach across the community game in England and we will be training our local delivery workforce to help clubs, schools, colleges and universities adopt this type of training.”