Rugby union injury prevention programmes: Running into the tryzone for 7s and 15s

Abstract

Overview: A successful rugby injury prevention program needs a sport-focused approach for all levels of play and supportive stakeholders to obtain evidence-based data to engine policies for developing populations. Understanding injury differences between two Rugby Union formats would aid development and implementation of prevention programs that benefit rugby-playing populations. The aim of this symposium is to highlight the global need of sport-format-focused injury prevention for Rugby Union. It will emphasize the current knowledge, public health concern, evidence-based injury prevention approaches employed in Rugby Union, and nurture a discussion on challenges in community rugby injury prevention programmes. Victor Lopez Jr. will describe the public health impact with exponential growth of Rugby Union and Olympic expansion; Richard Ma will explore the injury risk within Rugby Union formats and levels of play; Matthew Attwood will expand on the evidence-based injury prevention programme outcomes in Rugby-15s. Dan Rodgers will highlight the evidence-based injury prevention training needs among Rugby-7s. Patria Hume will elaborate the development and implementation strategies employed by the two Rugby Union formats and milestones to achieve. Following the presentations, a discussion about the future of injury prevention strategies and research needs for Rugby Union, community to elite, will be led by the chair.