Rugby Injuries
Peter H. Seidenberg
Rochelle M. Nolte
INTRODUCTION
Rugby union is a fast-paced contact-collision game with the continuous pace of soccer combined with contact situations similar to those seen in American football.
It is the fastest growing amateur sport in the United States.
There are greater than 90,000 members in USA Rugby (the governing body for Rugby Union in the United States) (30).
There are 7 territorial unions and 34 local area unions.
The USA national men’s team (the Eagles) was established in 1976, and the women’s team was established in 1987.
Rugby is played in over 150 countries worldwide and has a strong tradition in Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
Its popularity is second only to soccer in the world (14).
World Cup competition occurs every 4 years.
There are similar sports that are sometimes confused with rugby union such as rugby league and Australian Rules football, which will not be discussed in this chapter.
HISTORY
Invented in 1832 when William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and advanced it in a soccer match at Rugby College in England. The only way to stop the runner was to tackle him or her (6).
American football is thought to have been birthed from rugby in the late 19th century.
It was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1924 (27).
The United States won the gold medal in 1920 and 1924.
After 1924, it was no longer an Olympic sport, and this was followed by decreased popularity in the United States (27).
In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced that rugby sevens (the seven-a-side version of the game) will appear in the 2016 Olympic Games (27).
MATCH
Goals (12)
Whereas American football is a game of yardage, rugby union is a game of possession.
The player with possession of the ball is the front-most player on the attacking team. He or she may advance the ball by running with the ball, kicking it forward, or passing it backward or laterally to another player on his or her team.
□ All teammates are behind the ball carrier in support.
□ Unlike American football, blocking for the ball carrier is not permitted and is penalized as obstruction.
The objective is to maintain control of the ball and touch it down in the try zone (the rugby equivalent of the American football end zone).
□ Once crossing the try line, the player must touch the ball down on the ground in order to register a try, which is worth 5 points.
□ The try entitles the scoring team to attempt to kick the ball through the goal posts directly back from the point the ball was touched down in the try zone, which is worth another 2 points.
An offensive player may also attempt to drop-kick the ball through the goal posts during open play, which is worth 3 points.
If a penalty occurs, an attempt to kick to the ball through the goal posts is allowed from a ball placed at the point of the foul.
The team with the maximum points at the end of the match is the victor.
A typical game requires the athlete to cover a distance of 5-8 km, running at speeds up to 5-8 m · s−1 (comparable to soccer) (5).
In addition, the rugby player is involved in more than one to two episodes of collision contact per minute (5).
□ These equate to approximately 40 tackles and up to 70 rucks and mauls per game.
□ The forwards sustain an additional 30 scrums and 40 line outs per game.
There are few substitutions allowed. The mean duration of high-intensity work (sprinting or contact) is 38 seconds per minute, with an average workload of 51 minutes per 80-minute match. In comparison, the average American football game has only 10 minutes of contact or significant exertion per game (5).
Pitch: The rugby field is called the pitch (12).
The rectangular field of play (which excludes the goal zones) does not exceed 70 meters in width and 100 meters in length.
Each try zone is the same width as the remainder of the pitch and is between 10 and 22 meters in depth.
The pitch has the following solid lines:
□ Halfway line or midfield line (half the distance between the try lines)
□ Ten-meter lines on each side of the halfway line
□ Twenty-meter lines (22 meters from the try lines)
□ Try lines
□ Dead ball lines (at the deepest portion of the try zone)
□ Touch lines (side lines)
Dashed lines
□ Positioned 5 and 15 meters parallel to the touch lines
The goal posts are on the goal line and are in the field of play.
□ The distance between the posts is 5.6 meters in width with a minimum height of 3.4 meters.
□ The crossbar is 3.0 meters from the ground.
□ The posts should be padded (because players can collide with them as they are in the field of play).
Rules (12)
The match is divided into two 40-minute halves with a 5- to 10-minute half time.
A player who leaves the match and is substituted may not return to the match.
□ Exception: A player may be substituted for a maximum of 15 minutes for control of bleeding from an injury. After bleeding is controlled, he or she may then return to play. This is commonly referred to as a blood sub.
□ Exception: A referee may permit a substituted tight five player to return to the match to replace an injured player if no eligible player on the team is experienced in these skilled positions.
The play clock runs continuously.
There is one referee to monitor play.
□ Play is stopped only for a penalty, the ball leaving field of play, a score, or a serious injury (in the referee’s judgment).
□ The referee may summon a medical attendant onto the pitch or may allow the player to temporarily leave the pitch for medical evaluation.
□ Even though a medical attendant may be on the pitch evaluating an injured player, the referee may allow play to continue around the injured player.
□ The medical attendant does not have the power to stop play but does have the ability to determine whether an injured player is allowed to continue to play.
Rules have been instituted to decrease the incidence of neck injury in rugby union. The following actions are illegal:
□ High tackles above the level of the shoulders.
□ Spearing.
□ Leaving your feet to make a tackle.
□ Tackling a player who is in the follow-through phase of kicking a ball.
□ Tackling a player who has jumped in the air to catch a ball.
□ The tackler must wrap the opposing ball carrier with arms or grasp the player with hands. Tacklers cannot merely hit the opponent with a shoulder or shove him or her.
□ This rule separates rugby union from other contact-collision sports.
□ Laws are periodically reviewed and revised by the international rugby board to enhance safety and improve the flow of the game.
Positions (12)
There are 15 players on each team with specific positions and responsibilities (12).
Each team ideally has at least five to seven substitutes available.
The players numbered 1 through 8 are the forwards.
□ They are generally responsible for gaining and maintaining possession of the ball.
Players numbered 9 through 15 are the backs.
□ They are generally responsible for advancing the ball down the field and defending the open field.
Props
□ Position no. 1 — Loose head prop
□ Position no. 3 — Tight head prop
□ One of three people of the front row, which includes two props on either side of a hooker
□ They are responsible for the stability and strength of the front row.
□ They are generally the stoutest and least aerobically fit players on the pitch (25).
Hooker
□ Position no. 2
□ Responsible for hooking (securing the ball with feet) during the scrum
□ Hooker is in the middle position of the front row of the scrum and is tightly supported by the props on
either side, who support the hooker so his or her feet are off the ground. This enables the hooker to hook the ball backward during the scrum.
□ Hooker is usually slightly shorter and lighter than the props to provide a stable front row platform; however, at elite levels, this stereotype is not necessarily true.
Second row/locks
□ Positions no. 4 and 5
□ They are responsible for providing the driving force to the front row of the scrum.
□ Typically, they are the jumpers for the line out.
□ Generally, they are the tallest players on the pitch.
□ The second and first rows make up the tight five.
Flanker/wing forward
□ Positions no. 6 and 7
□ Together with the eightman, they make up the loose forwards.
□ Typically, they are the first players to leave a scrum.
□ Generally, they are the best tacklers and all-around athletes on the team.
□ Ideal flanker has both size and speed.
Eightman
□ Position no. 8
□ Eightman is at the rear end of the scrum and has his or her head between the second row players.
□ He or she is responsible for providing stability and drive to the scrum.
□ Generally, the eightman is the tallest loose forward.
□ He or she needs to be able to reach around the locks to hold them securely together.
□ The eightman is responsible for controlling the ball at the rear of the scrum until the scrumhalf retrieves the ball.
Scrumhalf
□ Position no. 9
□ Acts as the quarterback of the forwards.
□ Responsible for offensive and defensive strategy of the forwards during loose play.
□ Secures the ball from the scrum, rucks, mauls, and tackles.
□ Responsible for delivering the ball to the backs for open-field play.
□ Responsible for placing the ball in the tunnel (see scrum below).
□ The scrumhalf is usually smaller and quicker than the other forwards and has a fast and accurate pass.
Flyhalf
□ Position no. 10
□ Acts as the quarterback of the backs and is the first player in the back line.
□ Is responsible for calling back plays.
□ Generally, the flyhalf is smaller and lighter than other backs with good passing and kicking ability.
Centers
□ Position no. 12 — inside center
□ Position no. 13 — outside center
□ Generally the larger and more physical backs.
□ They are often called upon to crash into the competition by intentionally running into defenders to establish a ruck or maul.
Wings
□ Positions no. 11 and 14
□ Generally the players who are the quickest and most elusive on the team. They are required to outrun the opposition in open-field play.
Fullback
□ Position no. 15
□ The last line of defense in rugby.
□ Has responsibilities similar to the safety, punter, and punt returner of American football.
□ Essential skills include being able to field a kicked ball, kick for distance and accuracy, and consistently tackle in the open field.
Formations
Scrum
□ This aspect of the game is tightly controlled by the referee to prevent injury.
□ In preparation for the scrum, each pack assembles under the directions of their individual hooker.
□ After both teams are assembled and stable in the crouched position, the referee will call “Engage!”
Engagement is when the two scrums come together forming a tunnel between the front row players.
The referee calling “engage” is a recent change to enhance safety in the scrum. Previously, the scrums would come together at the end of a cadence called by the hooker of the attacking team. This change was in response to cervical spine injuries that were being reported as result of a powered engagement.
□ The scrumhalf introduces the ball into the tunnel.
□ The hookers attempt to hook (kick) the ball backward to their own team.
□ After the ball has traveled to the rear of the scrum, the ball can be picked up for advancement.
□ The scrum is used to restart play after the referee has stopped play for minor infringements and at other points in the match.
□ Strategically, it is used both offensively and defensively (21).
Offense → base for attacking play
Defense → denying the opponents clean possession
The stability of the scrum is determined by the front row’s ability to use their strength to transmit the force to their opponents (21).
Line out
□ Used to restart play after the ball has gone into touch (out of bounds).
□ There are two to seven forwards from each team arranged in parallel lines that are perpendicular to the touch line.
□ The hooker throws the ball into the tunnel formed by the standing forwards of both teams.
□ Each team has jumpers who will fight for possession of the thrown ball.
□ The jumper is assisted by lifters — two players who grab the jumper above the knees (usually by the shorts) and lift him or her into the air. The lifters also ensure a controlled return to the ground after the jumper has caught the ball. Afterward, a maul (see below) is usually formed.
Maul
□ Is formed when the ball carried is stopped by a defender but not taken to the ground.
□ Players from both teams attempt to drive the maul down the field by binding to each other and giving a unified push.Related posts:
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