Rugby Safety

There are undoubtedly several safety concerns when it comes to the sport of rugby. The vast majority of game injuries occur during tackles and scrums. When watching professional games, it is common to see at least a small amount of blood. However, there are protocols in place designed to prevent players from being seriously harmed.

Safety Gear

Rugby players currently wear a relatively minimal amount of safety gear. Rugby governing bodies are already aware of the potential dangers of concussion. Therefore thin head protection is permitted in games. Heavy helmets are not allowed as they could cause injuries to other players.

Boots are worn with unique rugby safety studs. These studs minimise the harm caused when players stand on each other’s feet. Football style shin pads protect lower legs. Shoulder pads are particularly useful during scrums as players make shoulder contact. Despite this safety gear, rugby is a fast sport with plenty of physical contact between players. Therefore, injuries can happen frequently.

Common Injuries

Since players can hold onto the ball, there is a potential for hand and finger injuries. Necks and backs are most vulnerable during scrums. During tackles, players are hit by considerable force and therefore need to fall correctly to minimise injury.

Long term playing may cause people to develop muscle strains or even joint conditions. It is therefore recommended that players do stretches before and after games. In recent years the issue of concussion has been addressed more in the media.

These head injuries may increase the chances of developing dementia in later years. Around a quarter of all rugby injuries involve the head.

In the last third of matches, a player may become fatigued. During this period, they are more vulnerable to getting hurt. Doing a warm-up before the second half could help prevent this.