Incidence of injuries in the New Zealand national rugby league sevens tournament

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2005.09.001

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

Volume 9, Issues 1–2, May 2006, Pages 110-118

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2005.09.001 Get rights and content

Summary

This study investigated the incidence, site, nature and causes of injuries sustained in the New Zealand national rugby league sevens tournament. A total of 218 players competing in 47 matches were studied. All injuries sustained within the tournament were prospectively recorded. Injuries were categorised according to the severity assessment at the time of the injury. Information obtained included the time, site, nature and cause of the injury. The incidence of injury was 497.6 per 1000 playing hours. More than 40% (216.1 per 1000) of injuries sustained occurred within the lower limbs. The shoulder was the single most commonly injured site (78.6 per 1000). Sprains were the most common injury type (189.9 per 1000). The ball-carrier sustained significantly more (p < 0.05) injuries than the tackling player (216.1 per 1000 [43.4%] versus 117.8 per 1000 [23.7%]). There were significantly more injuries on the first day of competition than on the second day of competition (600.4 per 1000 [76.3%] versus 320.9 per 1000 [23.7%]). The findings of higher injury rates on the first day of competition and during the second period of matches suggest that playing intensity and player fatigue may contribute to injuries in rugby league sevens.

Introduction

Rugby league is a collision sport played in several countries including Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and South Africa.¹ It is played at amateur, semi-professional and professional levels of participation.¹ The game consists of two teams of 13 players competing in a contest over two 40-min halves.¹ During a typical rugby league match, players are involved in a number of physical collisions and tackles. As a result musculoskeletal injuries are common.1, 2

The incidence of injury has been shown to differ among countries and playing levels.3, 4 Australian studies of rugby league injuries have reported injury rates of 160⁵–214⁶ injuries per 1000 playing hours, while studies of English rugby league players have reported injury rates of 178⁷–346⁸ injuries per 1000 playing hours. To date, few studies have investigated the incidence of injury in New Zealand rugby league players.9, 10 Of the studies that have been performed, injury rates have been reported to be in the range of 24.5¹⁰–278⁹ injuries per 1000 playing hours. Interestingly, Norton and Wilson⁹ found that more injuries occurred in the second half of matches, suggesting that fatigue may contribute to injuries in New Zealand rugby league players. However, others have suggested that playing intensity may contribute to rugby league injuries,¹¹ with studies typically reporting higher injury rates as the playing level is increased.¹²

Rugby league sevens is an increasingly popular spectator sport.¹ The match consists of two teams of seven players competing on a full-sized rugby league field. Consistent with conventional rugby league,¹³ the players undergo periods of low-intensity activity (static poses, walking, jogging) interspersed with short periods of high-intensity activity (sprinting, tackling).¹⁴ Although the duration of the match is shorter than conventional rugby league (usually 7 min per half), the players are required to compete several times in one day, and often over a number of days. To date, only one study has documented injury rates in rugby league sevens, with reports of higher injury rates in sevens rugby league in comparison to the conventional game.¹ In addition, the incidence of injury progressively increased as more matches were played, suggesting that fatigue contributes to injuries in rugby league sevens.¹ While this study was conducted on a large sample of amateur players in a local rugby league sevens competition, no study has documented injury rates in a national rugby league sevens tournament. With this in mind, our purpose in the present study was to investigate the incidence, site, nature, and cause of injuries sustained in the New Zealand national rugby league sevens tournament.

Section snippets

Methods

The incidence of injuries occurring in the 2005 New Zealand national rugby league sevens tournament was prospectively studied in 218 rugby league players (from 20 teams). The competition comprised amateur teams (players not receiving any form of remuneration for participating in the game of rugby league), regional teams and semi-professional teams (players receiving some form of remuneration for participating in the game of rugby league but not as their main form of income) from the Bartercard

Definition of injury

The definition of an injury utilised for this study was any pain or disability suffered by a player during a match that required advice and/or treatment1, 5, 16, 17 after a rugby league sevens match. The injuries were classified anatomically according to the site1, 15 head, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, neck, shoulder arm, elbow, hand, finger, chest/trunk, back, groin, thigh, knee, lower leg, ankle and toe. Injuries were also described according to the nature of the injury.1, 15 These included

Statistical analysis

Over the two days, 47 matches were played. Forty-six were 14 min (0.23 h) in duration and the final match was 20 min (0.33 h) in duration. The overall injury exposure for all players was 152.74 playing hours (7 players × 2 teams × 0.23 h × 46 matches) + (7 players × 2 teams × 0.33 h × 1 match).1, 20 The expected injury frequency was calculated as described by Hodgson-Phillips et al.⁸ for both days of participation. Total injuries for the two days were 76 (day 1: observed = 58 [amateur 31, semi-professional 27],

Results

Over the two days of participation, 76 injuries were recorded. The overall incidence of injury was 497.6 per 1000 playing hours. There were significantly more injuries on the first day of competition (600.4 per 1000 [76.3%]) than on the second day of competition (320.6 per 1000 [23.7%]; χ² = 5.7, d.f. = 1, p < 0.02) (Table 1). Not all the injuries were new, with six (7.9%) being an aggravation of old injuries that were either from previous sporting activities or that had occurred at the tournament.

Discussion

The present study is the first to investigate the incidence of injury in a national rugby league sevens tournament. The injury definition used in this study is identical to that previously used in Australian rugby league sevens and other rugby league injury studies.1, 5, 17 The results of this study demonstrate that the injury rates in New Zealand rugby league sevens are higher than previously reported in Australian rugby league sevens.¹ In addition, the finding of higher injury rates on the

Practical implications

•
The incidence of injury in New Zealand rugby league sevens players is higher than previously reported for Australian rugby league sevens players.
•
Playing intensity and player fatigue may contribute to injuries in rugby league sevens.
•
Increasing fitness levels to enhance players’ ability to tolerate the physiological demands of competition may reduce the incidence of injury in rugby league sevens.

Acknowledgements

The support and assistance of the National Trainers coordinator Bob Vercoe, and NZNRLF Trainers George Ale, Scott Buckingham, Steve York, John Komene, Wayne Pirini, Brent Corin, Piripi Menary, Tom Bishop and Mohan Jeyakumar are acknowledged and appreciated.

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Cited by (43)

Match and training injury incidence in rugby league: A systematic review, pooled analysis, and update on published studies
2022, Sports Medicine and Health Science
Citation Excerpt :
Statistical significance was set as p < 0.05. Of the 46 studies included in this review (see Fig. 1) 38 studies reported injuries that occurred during match activities (4 junior,7,39–41 13 amateur,42–54 5 semi-professional,2,8,10,55,56 3 elite,4,57,58 13 professional3,9,16,59–68) and 12 studies reported injuries that occurred during training activities (3 amateur,50,69,70 3 semi-professional,8,10,71 2 elite,72,73 4 professional16,74–76). Four studies reported on both match and training injuries.8,16,51,69
In studies reporting rugby league injuries, match injuries varied depending upon participation level. To review and update pooled data estimates for rugby league injury epidemiology and add information for participation levels in match and training environments. A systematic review and pooled analysis for published studies reporting rugby league match and training injuries. Searches were performed in the PubMed, CINHAL, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, SpringerLink, and Wiley Online databases. Studies were considered if they reported on rugby league match or training injuries between Jan 1990 to June 2021. Two authors (DK, TC) extracted the study characteristics, numerical data and assessed the article quality, by adhering to the protocol for systematic review of observational studies (MOOSE) and the STrengthening and Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. The 46 studies included a combined exposure of 419,037 h and 18,783 injuries incorporating 158,003 match-hr and 15,706 match injuries (99.4 [95%CI: 97.9–101.0] per 1000 match-hr) and 264,033 training-hr and 3077 training injuries (11.8 [95%CI: 11.4–12.2] per 1000 training-hr). Of included studies, 47.9% utilised a medical attention/treatment injury definition. There was a five-fold difference in injuries for the semi-professional participation level (431.6 per 1000 match-hr) compared with professional (RR: 4.92; p < 0.001) and elite (RR: 3.77; p < 0.001) participation levels. The hooker recorded the highest pooled injury incidence (93.1 per 1000 match-hr). Compared to the 2014 analysis there was a 10-fold increase for head-neck region (RR: 10.7; p < 0.001) injury incidence, and more injuries for the ball carrier (RR: 1.1; p = 0.008) and tackler (RR: 1.2; p = 0.001). There was a three-fold decrease in injury incidence in the first half (RR: 2.9; p < 0.001) and a two-fold decrease in the second half (RR: 2.3; p < 0.001) of matches. While rugby league match and training injury incidence had decreased since 2014, the increase in head injuries, and greater injury rate at the semi-professional level, mean further injury prevention interventions are needed.
Lower-extremity isokinetic strength profile in professional female rugby sevens and union teams
2022, Journal de Traumatologie du Sport
L’évaluation isocinétique de la force musculaire du quadriceps et des ischio-jambiers est couramment utilisée dans la prévention des lésions musculaires et ligamentaires du genou. Il existe quelques études concernant les normes musculaires des membres inférieurs chez les joueurs de rugby masculin mais aucune donnée n’est recensée concernant les joueuses de rugby féminin. Le but de l’étude était d’établir et de comparer le profil musculaire des quadriceps et des ischio-jambiers chez les joueuses de rugby de l’équipe de France à XV et à VII.
Quarante joueuses de rugby de l’équipe de France à XV et à VII ont été testées. Nous avons utilisé un dynamomètre isocinétique Con-Trex®. Les données ont été obtenues successivement en concentrique à 60°/s et 240°/s pour les quadriceps et les ischio-jambiers, puis en excentrique à 30°/s pour les ischio-jambiers seulement. Le ratio ischio-jambiers en excentrique sur quadriceps en concentrique à 240°/s a également été évalué.
Nous n’avons pas trouvé de différence de pic de couple pour les deux groupes. En rapportant au poids, les joueuses de l’équipe de France à VII développent une force musculaire des quadriceps supérieure en concentrique à 60°/s comparée aux joueuses de l’équipe à XV (p < 0,01) ainsi qu’en concentrique à 240°/s (p < 0,01).
Le profil musculaire des joueuses de l’équipe de France à VII diffère des joueuses de l’équipe de France à XV du fait des particularités de jeu. Ces résultats permettent de définir les qualités musculaires nécessaires pour évoluer au plus haut niveau féminin au rugby à XV et à VII.
Isokinetic testing is commonly used to analyze muscle strength for prevention and physical preparation. There are few studies about normative strength value for lower extremity in male rugby players. There is no data for female rugby players. The aim of the study was to establish and compare the profile of quadriceps and hamstring strength for female sevens and rugby union internationals by isokinetic strength assessment.
Forty professional female rugby players from the French national sevens and rugby union rugby squads were tested. We used an isokinetic Con-Trex® dynamometer. Data was obtained successively in concentric contraction mode at 60°/s and 240°/s for quadriceps and hamstrings, then in eccentric mode at 30°/s only for hamstrings. Mixed ratio (hamstrings eccentric at 30°/s/quadriceps concentric at 240°/s) was also evaluated.
We found no difference for both groups for the mean peak torque. When we normalized to the body weight, Sevens players demonstrated higher quadriceps muscle strength in concentric mode at 60°/s compared to Union players (P < 0.01). Sevens player's quadriceps muscle strength was also higher in concentric mode at 240°/s compared to Union players (P < 0.01).
Muscle strength profiles of players from French rugby Sevens and Union teams differ because of game features. These results make it possible to define the muscular qualities required to evolve at the highest female level in rugby union and rugby sevens.
Pectoralis major ruptures during rugby league tackling — Case series with implications for tackling technique instruction
2019, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
Document the mechanism and incidence of pectoralis major ruptures in a professional rugby league cohort, and compare to any existing data.
Retrospective case series.
Case series which documents 3 such injuries incurred while effecting a tackle in 3 rugby league players from the same squad (of 36) in the same season.
At the initial point of contact, all three players were in a similar shoulder position of outer-range abduction and horizontal abduction and subsequently it appeared their pectoralis major was torn while attempting to effect the tackle.
Complete tears of the pectoralis major muscle are rare but significant injuries often requiring surgical intervention to restore full function in collision sport athletes. In this same season, the organisation changed their defensive approach which may have contributed to these injuries. Each player was managed with acute surgical repair and returned to play at the same level. Suggestions are made to consider the possible training injury implications of changing tackle technique.
Traumatology in rugby sevens
2016, Science and Sports
Évaluer le risque traumatique du rugby à VII.
Le rugby à VII est en plein essor surtout depuis la création de l’IRB Sevens World Series en 2000 et son introduction comme sport olympique en 2016. Malgré ses fortes similitudes avec le rugby à XV, il n’en demeure pas moins un sport différent avec une intensité de jeu plus élevée, entraînant un nombre plus important de blessures. L’incidence moyenne de blessures au rugby à VII est de 249,27 pour 1000 heures de jeu contre 102,25 pour 1000 heures de match pour le rugby à XV.
Cette revue épidémiologique des blessures chez le rugbyman à VII évoque leur localisation et leur nature, les causes, la position des joueurs, le type de terrain, ainsi que le temps d’interruption de la pratique à la suite d’un traumatisme.
To estimate the risk of injury in rugby sevens.
The rugby sevens is an increasingly popular sport since the creation of the IRB Sevens World Series in 2000 and its introduction as an Olympic sport in 2016. Despite its strong similarities to rugby union, it remains a different sport with higher game intensity, causing a more significant number of injuries. The average incidence of injury in rugby sevens is 249.27 for 1000 hours of play against 102.25 for 1000 hours of rugby union matches.
This epidemiological review of injuries among the rugby sevens refers to their location and their nature, the causes, the position of players, the type of field, as well as the downtime of practice following trauma.
Tackle injury epidemiology and performance in rugby league - Narrative synthesis
2021, South African Journal of Sports Medicine
Lay of the land: Narrative synthesis of tackle research in rugby union and rugby sevens
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View all citing articles on Scopus

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Original paperIncidence of injuries in the New Zealand national rugby league sevens tournament

Summary

Introduction

Section snippets

Methods

Definition of injury

Statistical analysis

Results

Discussion

Practical implications

Acknowledgements

Physiotherapy

J Sci Med Sport

Incidence of injury in amateur rugby league sevens

Br J Sports Med

Incidence of injury in junior and senior rugby league players

Sports Med

A pooled data analysis of injury incidence in rugby league football

Sports Med

Physical collisions and injury rates in professional super league rugby, the demands of different player positions

Cleve Med J

Incidence, site, and nature of injuries in amateur rugby league over three consecutive seasons

Br J Sports Med

Frequency of injuries in different age-groups in an elite rugby league club

Aust J Sci Med Sport

Effects of seasonal change in rugby league on the incidence of injury

Br J Sports Med

Rugby league injuries and patterns

N Z J Sports Med

Incidence of sporting injury in New Zealand youths aged 6–15

Br J Sports Med

Influence of training and match intensity on injuries in rugby league

J Sports Sci

Original paper
Incidence of injuries in the New Zealand national rugby league sevens tournament