Study: Scholastic rugby safer than football

Rugby is safer for high school athletes than football or ice hockey, according to an Ohio State study.

Injury rates per rugby practice or game are lower than two contact sports far better established in the American school system, reports Dr. Dawn Comstock of the school’s College of Medicine. Further, the injury rate of US scholastic players is generally lower than in major rugby-playing countries, notably Australia and New Zealand.

The principal conclusions could be helpful to rugby coaches and administrators looking to make inroads with high school athletic departments. Insurance concerns and rugby’s reputation as a rough-hewn, ill-supervised sport are often roadblocks to institutional backing.

Though the requirements of a safety and risk management program are far-reaching, the data suggests high school teams are effectively assimilating beginning players. Over the past decade, USA Rugby has paid careful attention to coaching the introduction of new skils, such as scrummaging, in its instructional clinics.

The Ohio State report identifies injuries to the head (21 percent), ankles (16 percent), and shoulders (14 percent) as the leading trauma sites. Knees trailed behind at 8 percent. Most injuries occurred in the tackle: 31 percent of reported injuries were sustained by the tackled player, while 30 percent were suffered by the tackler.

Based on a sample of 78 schools – about 14 percent of verified boys and girls teams – the 2005 study asserts it is the most extensive review of American high school rugby injuries to date, and compares its findings to published academic work in the United States and Commonwealth countries.

Dr. Comstock’s research, which relied on an online reporting system, was partly underwritten by the United States Rugby Football Foundation. The San Diego-based nonprofit yesterday announced it will fund continued work. Dr. Comstock, herself a rugby player, is simultaneously examining injuries in high school football, volleyball, soccer, wrestling, basketball, baseball, and softball.

Comments

[sudden memory loss]

Good to know that, I thought rugby was more violent than football.

[Sc rugby]

It is rugby players r trained how to hit right and below the waist

[buy viagra]

sports are my passion, this blog really excited, I love baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, thank you for this very interesting.
Ruben M. Crosslin
4056 Vineyard Drive
Warrensville Heights, OH 44 128