Category: Injury Prevention
Rugby Science Update 10
Predicting performance at the group-phase and knockout-phase of the 2015 Rugby World Cup
The objective of this study was to develop a predictive model for performance during the group-phase of the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC) and to determine the most significant and relevant performance indicators for predicting match outcome. Performance indicators were downloaded from the OPTA website from the 2015 RWC (40 group-phase and 8 knockout-phase matches) to be analysed. A random forest classification model was developed to establish the relationship between the performance indicators and the match outcomes. The model created using the group-phase matches achieved a 100% accuracy of predicting match outcomes. When applied to the knockout-phase matches, this model had an overall accuracy of 87.5%, with sensitivity and specificity of 87.5%. The model identified 13 performance indicators that significantly predicted match outcomes. These included tackle-ratio, clean breaks, average carry, lineouts won, penalties conceded, missed tackles, lineouts won in the opposition 22, defenders beaten, metres carried, kicks from hand, lineout success, penalties in opposition 22 m and scrums won. The performance indicators in the group-phase matches that could predict the match outcomes were tackle ratio, clean breaks and average carry. Interestingly, the performance indicators do not change from the group to knockout stages. The findings of this study provide insights for rugby teams to assess their performance and understand the major technical factors contributing to success and failure in individual matches. Coaches and sport practitioners can then adjust their technical and tactical training appropriately.
This study is published in European Journal of Sport Science.
Statistical Review and Match Analysis of Rugby World Cups Finals
The purpose of this study was to describe game statistics and match analysis of Rugby World Cups from 1987 to 2015. The analysis focused on all final matches (n = 8) from 1987 to 2015 Rugby World Cups, and official reports from the Rugby World Cup webpages were also included in the analysis. This analysis included tracking counts of all match activities. 39 key performance indicators were categorised into seven groups: mode of scoring, set-pieces, defensive, offensive, infringements, replacements, and team/time possession efficiency. It was observed that the winning teams of the final matches in the Rugby World Cup attempted more penalty kicks. Interesting, the number of drop goals were similar between the winning and losing teams. The winning teams won more set pieces, including winning scrums and lineouts. In the defensive category, the winning teams attempted and completed more tackles than the losing teams. Regarding, the offensive category, the winning teams passed less, completed fewer offloads, and were involved in more rucks and mauls. Interestingly, it was noted that the losing teams made more substitutions than the winning teams. Furthermore, both teams in the Rugby World Cup finals shared similar possession of the ball. The authors of the study mentioned the importance of player emotions, as well as conducting more in-depth match analysis to enhance team performance characteristics.
This study is published in Journal of Human Kinetics.
How to harness and improve on video analysis for youth rugby player safety: a narrative review
The purpose of this narrative review is to synthesize the strengths and limitations of video analysis in youth rugby used for injury surveillance, highlight the importance of video analysis for youth player safety and discuss recommendations. This review highlights multiple strengths and limitations of video analysis in youth rugby for injury surveillance. It is recommended in this review that video assessment of injury and concussion outcomes be prioritised to educate, inform and improve youth rugby safety. The importance of analysing these outcomes is highlighted within this review which develops and guides targeted injury and concussion prevention strategies. Furthermore, a video analysis framework consensus that is specific to youth rugby is needed.
This study is published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.
Rugby Science Update 8
Professional male rugby union players’ perceived psychological recovery and physical regeneration during the off-season
The aim of this study was to explain the phenomenon of psychological recovery and physical regeneration of male professional rugby union players during the off-season. The study used a qualitative approach to gather the beliefs and experiences of players regarding their mental and physical health and well-being across the off-season period and identify the psychological and physical strategies adopted to recover and regenerate in preparation for the upcoming season. The study interviewed 34 male professional players, and found that the off-season is characterised by three phases that players undergo to preserve their mental and physical health and well-being to recover from the previous season and regenerate in preparation for the upcoming season. These include decompression from previous season, cognitive detachment from the rugby environment and preparation for preseason. Successful progression through all three phases appears to be influenced by variables including the work and life demands a player is encountering at the time, contextual factors such as their health status (ie, currently injured or ill), and their level of experience in the sport (eg, previous experiences of the off-season). The authors recommend players should receive sufficient time (5–6 weeks) in the off-season to progress through the phases of recovery and regeneration to prepare for the upcoming season, with consideration for the impact of work and life demands, contextual factors and experience levels. Also, education should be provided to all stakeholders regarding the importance of the off-season period for well-being (recovery and regeneration), together with strategies that can be used to enhance the quality of this process (ie, physically distancing from work environment to support cognitive detachment from rugby, engaging in development activities that nourish holistic identity and personal skill development). Clinicians should also support, where appropriate, player subgroups at risk of threats to well-being and welfare in the off-season period (long term or recently injured and younger professionals).
This is study is published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine and is open access.
Tackling sport-related concussion: effectiveness of lowering the maximum legal height of the tackle in amateur male rugby – a cross-sectional analytical study
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a tackle law variation that reduces the maximum legal tackle height from the line of the shoulder of the ball barrier, to the line of the armpit, on injury, head injury and sport-related concussion (SRC) incidence in amateur community rugby union. The study used a cross-sectional analytical design over the period 2018 (control) and 2019 (intervention) in a South African collegiate student rugby competition – which included 42 teams. Reducing the legal tackle height from the line of the shoulder to the armpit of the ball carrier in community amateur rugby showed a trend towards reducing injuries, head injuries and SRC, however, these injury trends were not statistically different.
This study is published in Injury Prevention and is open access.
Performance indicators associated with match outcome within the United Rugby Championship
This study had 3 aims i) identify performance indicators associated with match outcomes in the United Rugby Championship (URC), ii) compare efficacy of isolated data and data relative to opposition in predicting match outcome, and iii) investigate whether reduced performance indicator statistical models can reproduce predictive accuracy. The study analysed 27 performance indicators from 96 matches during the 2020-2021 URC season. Five key performances indicators differentiated between winning and losing in the URC – kicks from hand, metres made, clean breaks, turnovers conceded and scrum penalties. Kicking was highlighted as a key driver for match success, with the probability of winning higher for a team kicking more than their opposition. Also, team performance data are much more efficient at predicting match outcomes when expressed relative to the opposition’s performance.
This study is published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport and is open access.
Scott, G. A., Bezodis, N., Waldron, M., Bennett, M., Church, S., Kilduff, L. P., & Brown, M. R. (2023). Performance indicators associated with match outcome within the United Rugby Championship. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 26(1), 63-68.
Rugby Science Update 7
Longitudinal study of six seasons of match injuries in elite female rugby union
The aim of this longitudinal study was to describe the incidence, severity and burden of match injuries in elite adult women’s rugby union. Secondary aims were to describe injuries in different positional groupings (forwards and backs) and to describe the type and location of, and game event responsible for, injuries. The study found the incidence of injury was similar to those previously reported for women’s international match play, while lower than the elite men’s competition. Both the mean and median severity of injury were higher than those reported in elite men’s rugby. Concussion was the most common injury diagnosis, with the incidence of concussion increasing over the study period. The tackle event was associated with the greatest burden of injury, with ‘being tackled’ specifically causing the most injuries and concussions.
The study is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The relationship between physical characteristics and match collision performance among elite international female rugby union players
The aim of this study was to investigate which combination of anthropometric and physical abilities explained variance in match collision performance, using both effort and performance variables, in international female rugby union matches. The study collected physical performance and anthropometric data from fifty-one international female rugby union players, and analysed collision actions (categorised as “effort” or “performance” variables) from 20 international matches. Among forwards, acceleration momentum, body mass and skinfolds were positively associated with winning collisions and carrying the ball into contact more frequently, whilst tackle frequency was positively associated with relative leg strength and power output. For the backs, the ability to win collisions was positively associated with relative leg power output, and negatively associated with body mass. Tackle frequency was also associated with maximum upper- and lower-body strength.
This study is published in the European Journal of Sport Science. Woodhouse, L. N., Bennett, M., Tallent, J., Patterson, S. D., & Waldron, M. (2022). The relationship between physical characteristics and match collision performance among elite international female rugby union players. European Journal of Sport Science, 1-10.
Lay of the land: narrative synthesis of tackle research in rugby union and rugby sevens
The purpose of this review was to synthesise both injury prevention and performance tackle-related research to provide rugby stakeholders with information on tackle injury epidemiology, including tackle injury risk factors and performance determinants, and to discuss measures that may improve tackle performance while reducing the risk of tackle injuries. Using a systematic review approach, a total of 177 rugby union studies and 13 rugby sevens studies were identified. The review found that the tackle consistently accounted for more than 50% of all injuries in rugby union and rugby sevens, both at the professional level and at the lower levels, with the rate of tackle injuries higher at the professional level (mean 32/1000 player-hours) compared with the lower levels (mean 17/1000 player- hours). Also, the frequencies of injury between the ball carrier and tackler were not largely dissimilar. A player’s tackle actions and technical ability was also highlighted as a major risk factor for injury and a key determinant of performance. While studies have used evidence-based education, or proposed progressive tackle technique training and law changes to modify player tackle actions and technical ability, it was noted that all three modifiers working in unison (as oppose to separately) will have a higher potential at reducing tackle injury risk while enhancing performance. With the guidance of tackle injury and performance studies, as well as stakeholder engagement, experiential and explorative tackle research also has potential to inspire innovative tackle injury prevention and performance strategies.
This is review is published in the BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine and is open access.
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