Match and Training Injuries Sustained by Professional Male Rugby Union Players in Scotland

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Injury Epidemiology
• Rugby Union Analysis

Background:

• Rugby union is a high-contact sport with a known high incidence of player injuries globally.
• Existing literature lacks contemporary injury surveillance data specific to professional male rugby players in Scotland.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the incidence, severity, burden, and nature of match and training injuries.
• To establish a contemporary injury profile for male professional club rugby players in Scotland.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study design was employed over two seasons (2017/18 and 2018/19).
• Injury and exposure data were collected following international consensus definitions.
• Data analysis focused on injury incidence, severity (days lost), and burden.

Main Results:

• Match injury incidence was 136.2/1,000 player hours; training incidence was 4.1/1,000 player hours.
• Median injury severity was 7.0 days for matches and 7.5 days for training.
• Concussion (match) and posterior thigh muscle injuries (training) were the most frequent diagnoses.

Conclusions:

• Injury incidence in Scottish professional male rugby players exceeds rates reported in previous international studies.
• High rates of tackle and concussion injuries underscore the need for enhanced mitigation strategies.
• The study provides crucial data for developing targeted injury prevention programs in professional rugby.