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The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in head acceleration event (HAE) incidence between training and match‐play in women's and men's players competing at the highest level of domestic rugby union globally. Players from Women's (Premiership Women's Rugby, Farah Palmer Cup) and Men's (Premiership Rugby, Currie Cup) rugby union competitions wore instrumented mouthguards during matches and training sessions during the 2022/2023 seasons. Peak linear (PLA) and angular (PAA) acceleration were calculated from each HAE and included within generalized linear mixed‐effects models. The incidence of HAEs was significantly greater in match‐play compared to training for all magnitude thresholds in both forwards and backs, despite players spending approximately 1.75–2.5 times more time in training. For all HAEs (PLA > 5 g and PAA > 400 rad/s2), incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for match versus training ranged from 2.80 (95% CI: 2.38–3.30; men's forwards) to 4.00 (3.31–4.84; women's forwards). At higher magnitude thresholds (PLA > 25 g; PAA > 2000 rad/s2), IRRs ranged from 3.64 (2.02–6.55; PAA > 2000 rad/s2 in men's backs) to 11.70 (6.50–21.08; PAA > 2000 rad/s2 in women's forwards). Similar trends were observed in each competition. Players experienced significantly more HAEs during match‐play than training, particularly at higher magnitude thresholds. Where feasible, HAE mitigation strategies may have more scope for HAE reduction if targeted at match‐play, particularly where higher magnitude HAEs are the primary concern. However, the number of HAEs associated with different training drills requires exploration to understand if HAEs can be reduced in training, alongside optimizing match performance (e.g., enhancing contact technique). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of key stakeholder groups, i.e. coaches, players, and referees, of a reduced maximum legal tackle height law variation trial in a collegiate amateur rugby competition. A pragmatic qualitative approach was used. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were performed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Three main law trial-related themes and four additional contextual themes were identified. The most important contextual factors include perceptions of resource scarcity of the implementation context, deficient concussion knowledge and lack of education among all stakeholder groups, tackle technique deficiencies, and an entrenched culture of a dismissive attitude towards serious injuries and non-disclosure of concussion by players. Real-world challenges such as inconsistent sanctioning during gameplay, multi-tackler tackles, and player fatigue underscore the gap between the theoretical knowledge of the law and the complex, dynamic nature of its execution. Furthermore, deeply ingrained issues like entrenched tackle techniques, the quality of coaching, and prevailing attitudes towards concussion compounded these challenges, indicating a need for a more comprehensive approach to bridge the divide between understanding and implementation. Despite these challenges, several participants felt the law variation was still more effective than the existing law; and that it created more awareness around concussion, while sending a clear message that player welfare is being taken seriously. Collectively these factors indicate the difficulty of addressing a complex problem such as concussion, with a law variation intervention in a challenging (resource-constrained) setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Describe head acceleration events (HAEs) experienced by professional male rugby union players during tackle, ball‐carry, and ruck events using instrumented mouthguards (iMGs). Design: Prospective observational cohort. Methods: Players competing in the 2023 Currie Cup (141 players) and Super Rugby (66 players) seasons wore iMGs. The iMG‐recorded peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak angular acceleration (PAA) were used as in vivo HAE approximations and linked to contact‐event data captured using video analysis. Using the maximum PLA and PAA per contact event (HAEmax), ordinal mixed‐effects regression models estimated the probabilities of HAEmax magnitude ranges occurring, while accounting for the multilevel data structure. Results: As HAEmax magnitude increased the probability of occurrence decreased. The probability of a HAEmax ≥15g was 0.461 (0.435–0.488) (approximately 1 in every 2) and ≥45g was 0.031 (0.025–0.037) (1 in every 32) during ball carries. The probability of a HAEmax >15g was 0.381 (0.360–0.404) (1 in every 3) and >45g 0.019 (0.015–0.023) (1 in every 53) during tackles. The probability of higher magnitude HAEmax occurring was greatest during ball carries, followed by tackles, defensive rucks and attacking rucks, with some ruck types having similar profiles to tackles and ball carries. No clear differences between positions were observed. Conclusion: Higher magnitude HAEmax were relatively infrequent in professional men's rugby union players. Contact events appear different, but no differences were found between positions. The occurrence of HAEmax was associated with roles players performed within contact events, not their actual playing position. Defending rucks may warrant greater consideration in injury prevention research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs) are efficacious, though there is no IPEP specifically designed to reduce shoulder injuries in rugby. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Rugby Active Shoulder Injury Prevention (RASIP) programme. Three community rugby union clubs participated in a 12-week pilot study (players, n = 51; coaches, n = 7). Two teams were randomly allocated to the RASIP programme and one to the FIFA 11+ (IPEP) intervention. Feasibility was examined by players' adherence to the IPEP, and acceptability was described by players' and coaches' perceptions of the IPEP. On average, more players were exposed to 11+ training sessions (100%) than the RASIP programme (19 out of 36 players, 53%). Higher percentage of exercises was completed over the season in the 11+ (97%) than the RASIP programme (58%). Across both groups, there were different approaches followed in delivering the allocated intervention. The coach-led, prescriptively followed 11+ IPEP was better at achieving higher adherence with exercises. Coaches were concerned of not having enough time in their sessions to include the IPEP. This pilot study has shown that the intervention is feasible to deliver and is acceptable with improvements recommended by community stakeholders, coaches and players in a community youth rugby setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]