PREVENTING TACKLE INJURY EVENTS IN RUGBY UNION

Barry Wilson¹, David Chalmers², and Matthew Ingram¹.

¹School of Physical Education, University of Otago, and ²Injury Prevention. Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

This paper reports a programme of studies; describing the nature and circumstances of tackle injuries in rugby union, the type of tackle and player actions which were risk factors for the tackle injury, and proposed modification of player actions leading up to the tackle to reduce the risk of tackle injury. The stopping tackle was the most prevalent and the most common tackle associated with injury was the high stopping tackle from the front or side. Tackle types and player actions that pose particular risks of injury are identified as well as possible areas in which coaching, refereeing or law changes may help to reduce the risk of rugby tackle injury.