Abstract
This study interviewed retired professional rugby union players (≤10 years since retirement) to discuss their careers in the game of rugby union. The primary aim of the study was to document their understanding of concussion knowledge and the analogies they use to describe concussion. In addition, these interviews were used to determine any explicit and implicit pressures of playing professional rugby as described by ex-professional rugby players. Overall, 23 retired professional rugby players were interviewed. The participants had played the game of rugby union (n = 23) at elite professional standard. A semi-structured individual interview design was conducted with participants between June to August 2020. The research team reviewed the transcripts to identify the major themes from the interviews using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Four major themes were identified: (1) medical and theoretical understanding of concussion, (2) descriptions of concussion and disassociated language, (3) personal concussion experience, and (4) peer influences on concussion within the sport. These were further divided into categories and subcategories. The interviews highlighted that players did not fully understand the ramifications of concussive injury and other injury risk, as it became normalised as part of their sport. This normalisation was supported by trivialising the seriousness of concussions and using dismissive language amongst themselves as players, or with coaching staff. As many of these ex-professional players are currently coaching rugby (48%), these interviews could assist coaches in treating concussion as a significant injury and not downplaying the seriousness of concussion in contact sports.
Highlights
Rugby union has been a professional sport since 1995
In a study examining 12-month match exposure in professional rugby union players, it was proposed that accumulated training workload and recent match exposure influence a player’s current injury risk [1]
This study examined the pressures associated with being a professional rugby player and the players’ understanding of concussion as an injury in professional rugby union
Summary
It is a collision sport that is highly physical in terms of impact with opposing players, resulting in frequent contact events and collisions throughout the course of a match. The amalgamation of very high physical demands, combined with regular impacts with opposing players, for example, tackling, scrummaging or mauls, means that injury is an inherent risk of the game. This study demonstrated that players who had played a high (≥35) or a low (≤15) number of matches in the previous year were more susceptible to injury. This results in players potentially enduring numerous injuries over the duration of a season in professional rugby (81 per 1000 h (95% CI 63–105), and 3 per 1000 h (95% CI 2–4)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
