A two-prong approach – preventing head injury in rugby through law changes and effective tackle training

The nature of the tackle in rugby exposes players to high risk of injury – specifically head injuries and concussions. The current project will have two aims – i) Evaluate the effectiveness of a law change to reduce head injury and concussion in rugby across 11 rugby playing nations. ii) Develop and evaluate the efficacy of a tackle training programme in rugby. To test the effectiveness of this law change, a pre-post study design will be used to study the change in tackle behaviour. To assess the change in tackle behaviour, video analysis of over 3000 matches across the 11 nations will be conducted for 2022 and 2023 (pre-intervention) and another 3000 matches for 2024 and 2025 (post-invention). For the second aim of the study, we will use a two-arm non-randomised control study design over a 3 year period. Year 1 will serve as baseline, and ball-carrier and tackler contact technique will be assessed at the start of the pre-season and at the end of the pre-season, mid-way during the in-season and at the end of the in-season. Match tackle performance measurements (number of tackles, successful and unsuccessful tackles), injury surveillance and technique measurements will also be conducted throughout the in-season.