Abstract
Objectives To describe training loads and injury incidences, and explore their relationship in senior schoolboy rugby players in Leinster, Ireland.
Methods Prospective cohort study conducted during the 2019–2020 season. Methods aligned with consensus statements for rugby injury surveillance research. Injuries were coded using the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System (OSICS) version 10.1 and recorded using the World Rugby Injury Surveillance System. Training load measures (session type, duration and rate of perceived exertion) were recorded by the players using The Sports Office smartphone application.
Results In total, 463 participants (mean age 17, (SD=0.9 years)) in 16 schools provided data over 20 weeks. Injury incidence per 1000 player hours was 19.9 (95% CI: 15.2 to 25.6) match injuries and 0.7 (95% CI: 0.4 to 1.0) training injuries. Median injury severity was 22 days (95% CI: 17 to 28) lost for match injuries and 14 days (95% CI: 5 to 41) lost for training injuries. Frequent injury sites included shoulder (n=23, 27%), head (n=22, 26%), wrist/hand (n=9, 11%), ankle (n=8, 10%) and knee (n=5, 6%). Tackle accounted for 49% of injuries. Players’ recording of individual training load showed 11.5% compliance. Exposure was calculated as 31 141 training hours and 3063 match hours. Training sessions included conditioning weights (31%), rugby skills: non-contact (28%) and semicontact (24%), with variation in proportion of sessions across schools.
Conclusion Match activity and tackle events accounted for most injuries. Training exposure and type varied widely across schools. Low compliance in recorded individual training load limited analysis of association with injury risk, highlighting the challenge in identifying injury risk factors in an adolescent cohort.
Methods Prospective cohort study conducted during the 2019–2020 season. Methods aligned with consensus statements for rugby injury surveillance research. Injuries were coded using the Orchard Sports Injury Classification System (OSICS) version 10.1 and recorded using the World Rugby Injury Surveillance System. Training load measures (session type, duration and rate of perceived exertion) were recorded by the players using The Sports Office smartphone application.
Results In total, 463 participants (mean age 17, (SD=0.9 years)) in 16 schools provided data over 20 weeks. Injury incidence per 1000 player hours was 19.9 (95% CI: 15.2 to 25.6) match injuries and 0.7 (95% CI: 0.4 to 1.0) training injuries. Median injury severity was 22 days (95% CI: 17 to 28) lost for match injuries and 14 days (95% CI: 5 to 41) lost for training injuries. Frequent injury sites included shoulder (n=23, 27%), head (n=22, 26%), wrist/hand (n=9, 11%), ankle (n=8, 10%) and knee (n=5, 6%). Tackle accounted for 49% of injuries. Players’ recording of individual training load showed 11.5% compliance. Exposure was calculated as 31 141 training hours and 3063 match hours. Training sessions included conditioning weights (31%), rugby skills: non-contact (28%) and semicontact (24%), with variation in proportion of sessions across schools.
Conclusion Match activity and tackle events accounted for most injuries. Training exposure and type varied widely across schools. Low compliance in recorded individual training load limited analysis of association with injury risk, highlighting the challenge in identifying injury risk factors in an adolescent cohort.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e002535 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 28 Aug 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 28 Aug 2025 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025.
Data Access Statement
The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are not publicly available to protect study participant privacy and ensure schools’ data is not identifiable.Funding
Funding was provided by the IRFU Charitable Trust (grant code 22355).
Keywords
- Rugby
- Training
- Athlete
- Adolescent
- Sporting injuries
- athlete
- Sporting Injuries
