Rugby officials should do more to avoid injuries, according to the authors of a new research on retired players.
The researchers, lead by sport and exercise scientists at Durham University in the United Kingdom, believe both union and league codes should do more to avoid recurring injuries and to assist players when their careers finish.
According to the survey, concussion was the most prevalent ailment among rugby players, with the majority having at least one occurrence throughout their career.
In addition, both elite and amateur ex-players reported back discomfort and severe and frequent joint pain, which they attributed to the long-term consequence of cumulative damage.
Approximately half of all players had suffered a knee ligament damage, with one in every four still having issues.
Osteoarthritis, a condition in which joints become painful and stiff, was twice as frequent among professional rugby players as it was among non-contact athletes, and it was linked to past injuries and surgery.
The findings, published in the journal Sports Medicine, came after a series of incidents during the Rugby World Cup in Japan, including high tackles and hazardous play that resulted in injuries.
“It is clear from these findings that playing rugby union or rugby league is associated with lasting impacts in terms of injury and pain,” said project leader Dr Karen Hind of Durham University’s Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
“Although there have been initiatives and rule changes to try to make the game safer, injury rates across a player’s entire career remain very high.”
“Because the game is now faster and the players are larger than they used to be, the impacts are greater.”
“Many of the ex-players who participated in this study played rugby football more than a decade ago, when the game was more about evasion.”
“The injury rates for these people are up to nine times higher than for former non-contact athletes of the same age.”
What we need to remember is that today’s game is more about players racing into opponents than dodging them, which will eventually raise injury risk.”
“A case could be argued for less players on the pitch and providing more opportunity for evasion”
The research was carried out in partnership with scholars from New Zealand’s Auckland University of Technology. It looked into the types and numbers of injuries sustained by 254 male elite rugby players, amateur rugby players, and non-contact sportsmen like cricketers.
The retiring athletes’ ages varied from 21 to 82.
“Our study looked at the total number of injuries across a player’s career, and our findings suggest a need for better injury recovery given the reported frequency of recurrent injuries,” Dr. Hind stated.
“A case could be made for fewer players on the pitch and more opportunities for evasion.”
“Medics also play a role in encouraging reasonable injury recovery times, which clubs must support.”
“Importantly, our findings highlight a need for programmes to support professional players post-retirement, in managing the long term impacts of injuries sustained during their career.”
Former England player Jon Sleightholme, who was a member of the 1996 Five Nations winning side, claimed symptoms might arise years after retirement.
He went on to say: “What the study highlights for me is the need for long-term support and education for ex-players to help them manage these conditions as they get older.”
