The incidence of injury among male and female intercollegiate rugby players.
BACKGROUND
The National Collegiate Athletic Association classifies women's rugby as an emerging sport. Few studies have examined the injury rates in women's collegiate rugby or compared injury rates between sexes.


OBJECTIVE
Injury rates will differ between female and male intercollegiate club rugby players.


METHODS
Descriptive epidemiological study.


METHODS
Five years of injury data were collected from the men's and women's rugby teams at a US service academy using the institution's injury surveillance system. The primary outcome of interest was the incidence rate of injury during the study period per 10,000 athlete exposures. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated using a Poisson distribution to compare the rates by sex.


RESULTS
During the study period, the overall incidence rate for injury was 30% higher (IRR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.54) among men when compared with women; however, the distribution of injuries varied by sex. The incidence rate for ACL injury among women was 5.3 times (IRR = 5.32, 95% CI: 1.33, 30.53) higher compared with that among men. Men were 2.5 times (IRR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.03, 7.52) more likely to sustain a fracture. The rate of acromioclavicular joint injury was 2.2 times (IRR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.03, 5.19) higher among men when compared with women. Men were 6.6 times (IRR = 6.55, 95% CI: 2.65, 20.91) more likely to have an open wound than women.


CONCLUSIONS
There are differences in injury rates and patterns between female and male American rugby players.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences in injury patterns may reflect distinct playing styles, which could be the result of the American football background common among many of the male players.
Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, New York.
Karen Y
KY
Peck
US Military Academy, West Point, New York.
Dana A
DA
Johnston
Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, New York.
Brett D
BD
Owens
Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, New York.
Kenneth L
KL
Cameron
epidemiology; injury incidence; rugby; sex differences