Injury epidemiology in Rugby

Injury surveillance seeks to describe the occurrence of, the circumstances around, and the factors associated with injury. The data collected from these epidemiological studies are considered essential for the continued development of injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies. The tackle event is consistently reported to be responsible for the highest number of injuries in rugby union. Community rugby refers to the non-elite level of the game, usually at least one level below a countrys top tier of club rugby, and played in the most part on an amateur basis. Despite the growth in the women's game, relatively little evidence is available from this population as to the incidence, causes, or severity of injuries sustained during match-play or practice. The BokSmart National Rugby Safety Programme in South Africa is a prime example of a national sporting body adopting an evidence-based and evidence-driven approach to dealing with rugby injuries, especially catastrophic head, neck, and spine injuries.