Sport-related Concussion Characteristics among Male and Female Community Rugby Union Players

Purpose Investigating sport-related concussion (SRC) characteristics in community male and female Rugby Union players’ match-day injuries, across six-seasons of competition. Method A total of 5740 male and female player-seasons between the 2017/18 and 2023/24 seasons participated in the Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRIS) system. IRIS is a bespoke web-based national injury surveillance programme, with injuries being reported by each club’s designated injury recorder. SRC related data analysis included percentage frequencies for player demographics, injury mechanisms, and match timing occurrence. Injury time-loss was measured in days lost (median (interquartile range)). Results Across six-seasons, 427 SRC match injuries (male n=383, female n=44) were reported. SRCs were more likely to occur during the second half of match-play (males 63.5% (95% CI: 58.5%, 68.4%), females 72.1% (95% CI: 58.7%, 85.5%)). For males, most SRCs occurred when tackling (55.9%), compared to more evenly distributed mechanisms in females (tackling 38.6%; being tackled 29.5% and ruck 18.2%). Median days’ time-loss was 24 (11) for males and 28 (16) for females, though it should be noted that the mandated sit-out period is 21 days. Conclusions In adult community Rugby Union most SRCs occurred during the tackle event and were more likely to occur in the second half of matches. Females took on average 28 days to return, longer than their male counterparts at 24 days. Sports medicine staff, coaches, and players should be aware of match time and mechanism of injury (e.g. tackling) when SRCs are more likely to occur, alongside typical expected time-loss, to enhance player welfare and SRC management practices.