title: Scrum injury risk in English professional rugby union.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess and evaluate the injury risk associated with the scrum in English professional rugby union in the 2011-2012 season.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Players at English Premiership rugby union clubs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of team scrum-events per match; incidence (injuries per 1000 player-hours; propensity (injuries/1000 events); risk (days absence per 1000 player-hours and days absence per 1000 events).
  
  
  RESULTS
  31% of scrums in competitive matches resulted in collapse. Injury incidence associated with collapsed scrum-events (incidence: 8.6 injuries/1000 scrum-events) was significantly higher than those scrums that did not collapse (incidence: 4.1/1000 scrum-events).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The injury risk associated with collapsed scrum supports the continued focus on reducing scrum collapse through changes in, and strict application of, the laws surrounding the scrum.
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Aileen E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, The Rugby Football Union, London, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trewartha
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stokes
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Epidemiology; Injury Prevention; Rugby