Participation In Elite Adult Rugby May Present Risks of Head Injuries

For many, rugby is the best sport in the world owing to its strategic nature, fast pace, team play, and diverse membership. It’s a sport that almost anyone can play. It doesn’t matter if you’re short, tall, thin, or sturdy. As long as you’re in good shape, there’s a position for you. While it may look complicated at first, rugby is an easy sport to pick up and play. You might be more or less gifted for the sport, but if you keep up with training and you’re on a serious team, you’ll excel at what you do. 

In rugby, you need skills such as tackling, passing and catching. Rugby is the most physical when it comes to collisions and the impact on the body. The rules of the game are designed to prevent serious injuries. Regrettably, concussions remain a prevalent issue in elite rugby. Amateur and hobby players are less affected. The audit for the 2020/21 season, published by the RFU in collaboration with Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players’ Association, disclosed that concussions account for 28% of injuries. Concussions happen in other sports, namely American football and hockey. 

More Players Are Acknowledging They’ve Suffered from The Effects of Concussions 

A concussion can be provoked by a direct blow to the head. Moreover, it can occur when repeated body shots lead to a rapid movement in the head. The skull doesn’t have enough time to move with the body, so the brain presses against the skull. Despite increasing focus on prevention, the 2020/21 season witnessed an increase in the incidence of match concussions. An ever-increasing number of players admit to having suffered from the effects of concussions, such as memory and concentration problems, fatigue, and excessive drowsiness, to name a few. 

Several rugby players have spoken out about their symptoms, of which mention can be made of Michael Lipman, Alix Popham, Carl Hayman, and Adam Hughes. Ex-England hooker Steve Thomson revealed that he was diagnosed with onset dementia in November 2020, linked to excessive head trauma. His struggle with dementia took him to the brink of despair. Thomson explained that he was put on a suicide watch. As the England rugby star highlights, he can’t remember his first concussion, nor the last. He said he would donate his brain to scientists researching brain trauma. 

Injury audits are conducted on a regular basis by governing bodies to get a better understanding of how to help players prevent and recover from head injuries. The problem is that these studies are limited to a few seasons. They can produce false results or overestimate the magnitude of the problem. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend the long-term injury toll for rugby players. As mentioned earlier, elite athletes are far more likely to report long-term effects from concussions as opposed to amateur and hobby players. More often than not, they struggle with reduced neurovascular and brain function. 

Improving The Detection of These Complex Injuries Remains a Priority 

Managing concussions is a major issue for rugby. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of head injuries, several measures can be taken to prevent concussions from occurring. Some of the best practices to lower the risk of concussions are following the proper techniques for tackling and side-stepping, wearing protective gear, and avoiding playing until having been cleared by a medical professional. Coaches and teammates must encourage players to report concussions that happen during games and training sessions. It’s desirable that rugby players are educated about the risks of playing while symptomatic. 

Head injuries are a growing epidemic in sports. The good news is that researchers and engineers have found a solution – a technologically advanced mouthguard that can detect concussions. The RFU, Premiership Rugby and World Rugby certified that such mouthguards would be used during the 2022/23 season. The data obtained via the instrumented mouthguards will be combined with data gathered during trials with Harlequins men, Northampton Saints, Bristol Bears women, and the Red Roses. The mouthguards offer an accurate picture of the movement of the head. Players will be encouraged to wear mouthguards, but they’re not mandated. 

Governing bodies should commit to welfare for current and former rugby players. They should launch initiatives throughout the lifecycle of a player, with a focus on the differences in game shape and injury risk between elite and community game. It’s imperative that everyone operates within an accepted ethical framework and, most importantly, demonstrates exemplary behaviour. Everyone is responsible for player safety, including club officials, coaches, players, and referees. Science and technology can be leveraged to optimise player welfare and brain health. Many are in favour of reducing full contact during training. 15 minutes of training per week are enough to improve performance.  

Former Rugby Stars Have Launched a Lawsuit Against the RFU And World Rugby 

Former professional and semi-professional rugby players have launched a lawsuit against the RFU and World Rugby after being diagnosed with early-onset dementia and other irreversible neurological impairments. The claimants include former Wales captain Ryan Jones and former England World Cup winner Steve Thompson. The governing bodies for rugby seem to have been negligent in the sense that they failed to protect players from permanent injury caused by repeated blows to the head during their careers. The lawsuit isn’t about financial compensation. It’s about making the game safer and making sure players get much-needed help. 

According to the experts at Personal Injury Claims UK, medical evidence is a crucial element of an injury claim. The ability to continue to play rugby, earn a living, and enjoy a normal family and social life is often severely impacted. Also, it’s necessary to prove that someone else is responsible for the accident. Players and officials must cooperate. Any deviation from the code of conduct may give way to compensation. Getting back on topic, if the claim is successful, it could end up costing the governing bodies millions of pounds. Punitive damages might be awarded on top of compensatory damages to deter the commission of future wrongs.