Concussion in amateur rugby union in Ireland

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Abstract

In recent years there has been growing concern about concussion in sport in general andrugby union in particular. The qualitative study reported here draws on interviews with adultplayers in non-elite club rugby union in Ireland in order to explore the frames of referencewithin which they perceive, give meaning to and manage concussion. Within a sportingsubculture which emphasises lay sporting values – particularly the value of “playing hurt” –and which reflects a functional view of injury, non-elite players tend to display an irreverentattitude towards concussion which encourages risky behaviours and underplays, ignores ordenies the significance of concussion. These beliefs and actions are described analogously asbeing “head strong”. The presentation also identifies the contextual contingencies whichmake the regulation of injuries in rugby union so difficult and suggests some core principlesof public health education campaigns that might be deployed to militate against the highincidence of concussive injury in future.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUnknown Host Publication
PublisherSociological Association of Ireland
Number of pages10
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 6 May 2017
EventSociological Association of Ireland - Ulster University, Belfast Campus
Duration: 6 May 2017 → …

Conference

ConferenceSociological Association of Ireland
Period6/05/17 → …

Keywords

  • concussion
  • pain
  • injury
  • rugby union

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