Head, face and neck injury in youth rugby: incidence and risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, the incidence of head, neck and facial injuries in youth rugby was determined, and the associated risk factors were assessed.


METHODS
Data were extracted from a cluster randomised controlled trial of headgear with the football teams as the unit of randomisation. No effect was observed for headgear use on injury rates, and the data were pooled.


METHODS
General school and club-based community competitive youth rugby in the 2002 and 2003 seasons.


METHODS
Young male rugby union football players participating in under-13, under 15, under 18 and under 21 years competitions. Eighty-two teams participated in year 1 and 87 in year 2.


METHODS
Injury rates for all body regions combined, head, neck and face calculated for game and missed game injuries.


RESULTS
554 head, face and neck injuries were recorded within a total of 28 902 h of rugby game exposure. Level of play and player position were related to injury risk. Younger players had the lowest rates of injury; forwards, especially the front row had the highest rate of neck injury; and inside backs had the highest rate of injuries causing the player to miss a game. Contact events, including the scrum and tackle, were the main events leading to injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Injury prevention must focus on the tackle and scrum elements of a youth rugby game.
McIntosh
A S
AS
The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. a.mcintosh@unsw.edu.au
McCrory
P
P
Finch
C F
CF
Wolfe
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult