Epidemiological study of injuries in international Rugby Sevens.
OBJECTIVE
To assess incidence, nature, and causes of injuries sustained in international Rugby Sevens.


METHODS
Prospective cohort: definitions and procedures were compliant with the consensus statement for epidemiological studies in rugby union.


METHODS
2008/2009 International Rugby Board Sevens World Series (8 tournaments) and Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009.


METHODS
Two hundred ninety players, representing 12 countries.


METHODS
Injuries sustained as function of playing position and nature, cause, and time of onset.


METHODS
Number, location, diagnosis, severity, and cause of injuries: incidence (injuries/1000 player-hours) and severity (days absence from training/competition) of injuries.


RESULTS
One hundred four injuries were recorded during 578 team games (979.1 player-match hours), which equates to 0.18 injuries per team match, 0.96 injuries per team per tournament, or 106.2 injuries per 1000 player-hours (95% confidence interval, 87.8-128.9). These injuries had a mean severity of 45 days and a median severity of 24 days. The lower limb (70%) and joint (non-bone)/ligament (52%) were the most common site and type of injury. Most match injuries were acute (93%) and resulted from contact (78%) events; being tackled (34%) and running (22%) were the most common causes of injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that the risk of injury from international Rugby Sevens was higher than that reported for international 15-a-side rugby; in particular, the severity of injury was significantly higher. A need for further research into the reasons for the high average severity of injury and the development of injury prevention strategies for ankle and knee ligament injuries in Rugby Sevens were indicated.
Fuller
Colin W
CW
Centre for Sports Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom. colin.fuller@nottingham.ac.uk
Taylor
Aileen
A
Molloy
Michael G
MG
D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult