• Advertise
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Australian Times News
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
Australian Times News
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle

Rugby: retired players more likely than other athletes to suffer long-term injuries

Past participation in rugby was associated with a higher total number of injuries and recurrent injuries.

The Conversation by The Conversation
16-07-2020 22:31
in Lifestyle
Retired players more likely than other athletes to suffer long-term injuries

Retired players more likely than other athletes to suffer long-term injuries Photo by Thomas Serer on Unsplash

Karen Hind, Durham University

Rugby brings a risk of injury at all levels of the game. But for professional rugby players, there’s an even higher risk of injury. And often, these injuries can last a long time. Our research found that compared to athletes from non-contact sports, retired elite and amateur rugby players were between two and ten times more likely to suffer from injuries – including concussion and knee-ligament injuries. Over half also reported osteoarthritis following retirement.

Many retired players report injuries last long after they stop playing. Roger Sedres/ Shutterstock

Rugby is a popular sport played by over 8.5 million people around the globe. There are two types of rugby: rugby union and rugby league. Both are played in two halves of 40 minutes, but they differ by number of players (15 for union and 13 for league) and rules of the game.

While injury audits are regularly conducted by governing bodies at the semi-professional and professional levels to understand how to better help players prevent and recover from injuries, these studies are limited to one or two seasons. This makes it difficult to see the longer-term injury toll for players.

Our research was conducted as part of the Global Rugby Codes Health Research Programme led by researchers at Auckland University of Technology and Durham University. We examined the total reported injuries across a rugby player’s career, as well as the continued impact of injuries following retirement. We looked at 189 UK elite and amateur rugby union and league players, as well as 65 retired athletes from non-contact sports – mainly cricket.

Past participation in rugby was associated with a higher total number of injuries and recurrent injuries. Retired rugby players were two to seven times more likely to report experiencing an injury. The reported number of injuries were equivalent to 1.6 injuries per season in former elite rugby players, and around 0.9 injuries per season in former amateur players. In comparison, non-contact athletes experienced an average of 0.2 injuries per season. Considering that the average rugby career spanned 24-25 seasons (one season per year), these figures are high.

Concussion was the most frequently reported injury for elite (81%) and amateur (76%) rugby players, and knee-ligament injuries affected 68% of elite players and 48% of amateur players. These injuries were also more likely to be recurrent. This suggests players might be returning too quickly, without giving injuries enough time to heal. Repeated exposure to risk may also be causing recurrent injuries.

AlsoRead...

Premier-Leagues-Fifth-Champions-League-Janosch-Diggelmann-Unsplash

The Battle for the Premier League’s Fifth Champions League Spot: Who Will Prevail?

8 May 2025
Image Source: Unsplash

Business Gas: 3 Easy Ways to Keep Costs Down

23 April 2025
Injuries suffered by rugby players. Durham University, Author provided

It’s worth noting that although it’s been suggested that increased skill and proficiency can reduce the risk of certain types of injuries, our study found that injury numbers were consistently higher in elite-level players than in amateurs. This could suggest that the higher levels of injuries in elite players might reflect an increased exposure to risk through training and intensive match play, or that they’re playing with niggles or injuries because professional rugby is their main source of income.

Long-term effects

Former players, particularly at the elite level, reported that previous injuries continued to affect them even after retiring. They were two to ten times more likely to report long-term impact from an injury compared to retired athletes from non-contact sports.

The injuries that continued to affect former players during retirement were concussion, neck injuries, shoulder dislocation and knee ligament injuries. For concussion, this is concerning given increasing evidence shows a link between concussions and reduced neurovascular, and brain function.

We also found 64% of former elite rugby players suffer from severe and regular joint pain, and 80% reported back pain. Elite players also had a twofold greater risk for osteoarthritis. Given that the average age of former elite players in this study was 43 years, this suggests the premature onset of this disease.

Rule changes have been made and programmes introduced to help mitigate the risk in rugby players. Professional clubs have access to advanced medical support and carefully monitor training loads in players. The Rugby Ready programme also gives rugby union players and coaches advice on rules, safe tackling techniques, conditioning and injury management.

However, we need to continue efforts to minimise concussion and musculoskeletal injuries in contact sports. In particular, little attention has so far been given to preventing knee-ligament injuries. It is also clear that while support for players has improved, support for retired players is lacking. Our research identifies the pressing need for educational, rehabilitation and injury management support for players post-retirement, with consideration of those injuries most associated with long-term impacts.

Karen Hind, Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Sciences & Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Durham University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Tags: SB001
DMCA.com Protection Status

SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER

[mc4wp_form id=”2384248″]

Don't Miss

The Broker who says ‘Yes’ when Banks say NO

by Pauline Torongo
8 July 2025
The Broker who says ‘Yes’ when Banks say NO
Business & Finance

When faced with constant loan rejection or last-minute withdrawals of support, Trelos Finance stands out as a solution.

Read more

Common Mistakes When Buying a Telescope — And How to Avoid Them

by Fazila Olla-Logday
1 July 2025
Common Mistakes When Buying a Telescope
Technology

You’ve spent hours scrolling through telescope specs online, dazzled by features and grand promises. The excitement builds—until your newly arrived...

Read more

From Portugal to Bali: Where Aussies Should Go for Your Next Coastal Holiday

by Fazila Olla-Logday
20 June 2025
Source: Flickr
Travel

Aussies, here is a guide to where you should go for your next coastal holiday.

Read more

Leading with Trust: Why Quality still wins in the AI Era

by Pauline Torongo
5 June 2025
Leading with Trust: Why Quality still wins in the AI Era
Business & Finance

If you're leading a software team today, you've likely noticed the shift: faster feature rollouts, routine automation, and AI taking...

Read more

How to Save on Airport Parking: Budget Tips Every Traveller Should Know

by Fazila Olla-Logday
3 June 2025
How to Save on Airport Parking
Travel

Saving money on airport parking can be a challenge,but here are some budget friendly tips to help you navigate.

Read more

Why Australian Investors are Betting on the Aviation Maverick Louis Belanger-Martin

by Pauline Torongo
28 May 2025
Why Australian Investors are Betting on the Aviation Maverick Louis Belanger-Martin
Business & Finance

Bélanger-Martin’s ambitions stretch beyond redefining inflight comfort—they’re rooted in resurrecting the romance of supersonic travel with a modern twist.

Read more

Why a Gluten Free Hamper is simply the Best Gift for a Coeliac

by Fazila Olla-Logday
22 May 2025
Gluten Free Hamper
at

Buying a thoughtful gift can be tricky at the best of times, but when someone has dietary restrictions like coeliac...

Read more
Load More

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status

  • About us
  • Write for Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • T&Cs, Privacy and GDPR
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status