Sport-related Concussion Characteristics and Time-loss Among Male and Female Community Rugby Union Players Across 6 Seasons.

Authors

Laura C Power, Tom M Comyns, Helen Purtill, John J E Mulvihill, Kilian L Bibby, Caithríona Yeomans, Patrick Dolan, Michael W Collins, Anthony P Kontos, Ian C Kenny

Published in

Sports health. Pages 19417381261474860. Oct 07, 2026. Epub Oct 07, 2026.

Abstract

Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a common injury in Rugby Union. There is currently a paucity of prospective research in SRC specific data in both male and female community Rugby Union players, which may restrict SRC prevention, recognition, and management practices.
Adult community SRC injuries would be common in match-play, forward players, and in the tackle event, alongside increased time-loss following SRC in female players.
Prospective cohort study.
Level 2.
Data were collected across 6 seasons between 2017/18 and 2023/24, from 5740 male and female player-seasons registered with the Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance system. SRC injury data included player demographics, setting (match, training), mechanism of injury, timing occurrence, and time-loss.
Of the 456 reported SRCs, 93.9% occurred on match days and 6.1% during training. SRCs reported during matches were more likely to occur during the second half (males 63.5% [95% CI 58.5%, 68.4%]; females 72.1% [95% CI 58.7%, 85.5%]). For male players, most match-day SRCs occurred when tackling 55.9% (95% CI 50.9%, 60.8%), compared to more evenly distributed mechanisms observed in females (tackling 38.6%; being tackled 29.5%; ruck 18.2%). Severe SRC time-loss injuries (>28 days absence) were significantly more likely in female players compared with male players (46% vs 30%; P = 0.013). Annual SRC prevalence ranged from 4.0% to 9.7% for male players and 3.1% to 7.0% for female players across the 6 seasons.
In adult community Rugby Union most recorded SRCs occurred during the tackle event, match-play, and were more likely to occur in the second half. Female players may be more at risk for greater time-loss following SRC than male players.
Sports medicine staff, coaches, and players should be aware of match time and mechanism of injury (eg, tackling) when SRCs are more likely to occur, alongside the potential increased time-loss risk in female players, to support SRC recognition and recovery.

PMID:
42842640
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 08 Oct 2026.

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