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Contact Role and Tackle Characteristics Shape Head Acceleration Exposure in Male Community Rugby: A Cohort Study
Melanie D Bussey1, Danielle Salmon2, Bridie Nanai3
1School of Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. melanie.bussey@otago.ac.nz.
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|September 17, 2025
Summary
Head acceleration events (HAEs) in community rugby primarily occur during tackles and rucks. Tackle height and player role significantly influence HAE risk, with younger players facing higher secondary impact risks.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
- Rugby Union Safety
Background:
- Community rugby faces scrutiny over head acceleration events (HAEs) and their long-term health implications.
- Limited data exists on HAEs in community rugby across different age groups and positions.
- Governing bodies are implementing measures to reduce head impact risks, including education and instrumented mouthguards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify head acceleration events (HAEs) in community rugby.
- To analyze HAEs across different playing positions, age grades, and contact phases.
- To identify specific match scenarios associated with high head loading.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational cohort study of 259 male players across U13, U15, U19, and Premier senior grades.
- Instrumented mouthguards used to record head acceleration events exceeding 5g.
- Video recording for verification and coding of HAEs by match context, player position, and contact event characteristics.
Main Results:
- 7358 head acceleration events (HAEs) identified, with tackles and rucks comprising ~60%.
- High tackles increased ball carrier head loading; low tackles increased tackler head loading.
- Defensive rucks posed a higher HAE risk, especially for U19 jacklers; U13 ball carriers experienced higher rotational loading.
Conclusions:
- Tackles and rucks are key sources of HAEs, influenced by player posture, tackle height, and role.
- Lower tackles reduce ball carrier load but increase tackler exposure, highlighting a safety trade-off.
- Age- and position-specific strategies are needed to mitigate HAE risk in community rugby, addressing younger players' susceptibility to secondary impacts.
