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Head, face and neck injury in youth rugby: incidence and risk factors
  1. Andrew Stuart McIntosh (a.mcintosh{at}unsw.edu.au)
  1. The University of New South Wales, Australia
    1. Paul McCrory (p.mccrory{at}unimelb.edu.au)
    1. University of Melbourne, Australia
      1. Caroline F Finch (c.finch{at}ballarat.edu.au)
      1. University of Ballarat, Australia
        1. Rory Wolfe (rory.wolfe{at}med.monash.edu.au)
        1. Monash University, Australia

          Abstract

          Title: Head, face and neck injury in youth rugby: incidence and risk factors.

          Objectives: To determine the incidence of head, neck and facial injuries in youth rugby and assess associated risk factors.

          Design: Data were extracted from a cluster randomised controlled trial of headgear with the football teams as the unit of randomisation. No effects were observed for headgear use on injury rates and the data were pooled.

          Setting: General school and club based community competitive youth rugby in the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

          Participants: Young male rugby union football players participating in under 13, under 15, under 18 and under 21 years competitions. 82 teams participated in year one and 87 in year two.

          Main Outcome Measures: Injury rates for: all body regions combined, head, neck and face calculated for game and missed game injuries.

          Results: 554 head, face and neck injuries were recorded within a total of 28,902 hours of rugby game exposure. Level of play and player position were related to injury risk. Younger players had the lowest rates of injury; forwards, especially the front row had the highest rate of neck injury; and, inside backs had the highest rate of injuries causing the player to miss a game. Contact events, including the scrum and tackle, were the main events leading to injury.

          Conclusion: Injury prevention must focus on the tackle and scrum.

          https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2007.041400

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