Acute auricular haematoma is a common problem in rugby players and can be difficult to treat due to re-accumulation of the fluid and can subsequently cause the unsightly cauliflower ear. We present a case of auricular haematoma affecting the central part of the pinna in a professional rugby player. This was treated successfully by aspiration and the use of silicone splints which allowed the pla...

Posterior fracture-dislocation of hip is uncommonly encountered in rugby injuries. We report such a case in an adult while playing rugby. The treating orthopaedician can be caught unaware and injuries in such sports can be potentially misdiagnosed as hip sprains. Immediate reduction of the dislocation was performed in theatres. The fracture was fixed with two lag screws and a neutralization pla...

The high tackle around the neck is illegal but still commonplace in South African rugby. An analysis of 40 rugby players who sustained spinal cord injury during the period 1985-1989 revealed that 8 were injured by a high tackle. The case histories and radiographs of these 8 players were analysed. The majority sustained flexion-rotation injuries after being tackled from the side. Another mechani...

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceptions of autonomy support, structure and involvement provided by the head coach and motivational processes at midand late-season in competitive rugby players. Participants (Mage = 20.17 years, SD = 1.61 years, Range = 18 to 27 years) completed assessments of perceived coaching style and psychological need fulfillment at the...

PURPOSE This study investigated the effect of ingesting 0.3 g/kg body weight (BW) of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) on physiological responses, gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability, and sprint performance in elite rugby union players. METHODS Twenty-five male rugby players, age 21.6 (2.6) yr, participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Sixty-five minutes after c...

BACKGROUND Injuries to youth rugby players have become an increasingly prominent health concern, highlighting the importance of developing and implementing appropriate preventive strategies. A growing body of evidence from other youth sports has demonstrated the efficacy of targeted exercise regimens to reduce injury risk. However, studies have yet to investigate the effect of such intervention...

Rugby league is an intermittent, collision team sport played at amateur and professional levels across junior and senior age categories worldwide. A paucity of literature exists with regard to research on nutrition for junior rugby league players. This lack of research makes the development of specific nutritional recommendations for players problematic. There is a concern that players may adop...

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. HYPOTHESIS Injury rates will differ between female and male intercollegiate club rugby players. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive epidemiological study. METHODS Five years of injury data...

The present study explored the behaviours and underlying philosophies of four professional coaches in rugby union. Four rugby union coaches were observed using the Rugby Union Coaching Observation Instrument at three 45 minute practice sessions throughout a season. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted after each observation to explore coaches’ perceptions of the reasons underlying the...

This study investigated the effects of one year of regular wheelchair rugby training on thoracoabdominal mobility of subjects with tetraplegia. Seven male subjects, tetraplegic level C5-C7 were analyzed before and after a year of training in wheelchair rugby the three-dimensional kinematic analysis of thoracoabdominal mobility of four regions: superior thorax (ST), inferior thorax (IT),superior...