World Rugby: Governing body urged to address head injuries after alarming findings in a study reveals huge risks for players

World Rugby has welcomed the conclusions of a study that calls for a reduced global calendar and the removal of contact training after evidence revealed an increased risk of motor neurone disease in former players.

The University of Glasgow powered the study of former Scottish internationals and found the ex-player to have double the risk of neurodegenerative disease and 15 times increased risk of motor neurone disease.

Immediate concern

Prof Willie Stewart led the study and was immediately concerned for the safety of the players and called for the matter to be addressed “rapidly”.

“I am genuinely concerned about what is happening in the modern game, and that if, in 20 years’ time, we repeat this study we would see something even more concerning” Stewart said.

“Rugby has talked a lot and done a lot about head injury management and whether it can reduce head injury during (training). Those conversations have gone on a while and the pace of progress is pretty slow.

“This should be a stimulus to them to pick up their heels to make some pretty dramatic changes as quickly as possible to try and reduce risk.

“Instead of talking about extending seasons and introducing new competitions and global seasons they should be talking about restricting it as much as possible, cutting back on the amount of rugby we’re seeing and getting rid of as much training as possible.

“Things like that have to be addressed pretty rapidly.”

World Rugby hopes smart mouthguard technology can help inform medical teams about these injuries whilst underlining their commitment to optimising the global rugby schedule.

“World Rugby introduced new contact training load limit guidance of 15 minutes per week in August 2021.

“This is currently being evaluated as part of the biggest ever study in sport of smart mouthguard technology. The results will inform the future of this important area.

“Equally, everyone in the sport is committed to determining an optimised men’s calendar, like the women’s, that prioritises player welfare and rest, while most unions already limit the number of minutes or matches their players can play.”

Further research required

World Rugby’s chief medical officer Dr Eanna Falvey says the findings of the study call for further research as the organisation is committed to prioritising player welfare.

“World Rugby welcomes the findings from the University of Glasgow and Professor Stewart’s call for further research into neurodegenerative disease in rugby.

“Innovation, that is led by science and research, is a central pillar of our six-point plan to make the sport we all care deeply about the most progressive in the world on player welfare.

“At World Rugby we have an independent concussion working group that considers all the latest academic research and findings.

“This enables us to have a constant and open conversation about what changes to the game may be appropriate and where further research may need to be focussed to help us drive forward our player welfare plan.

“World Rugby will never stand still on player welfare. To date, we have invested over 10million euros in welfare studies including the largest study into head impacts in community sport anywhere in the world and a study of health outcomes for over 3,000 retired rugby players, both delivered in partnership with New Zealand Rugby.

“We will continue to build on this work in our quest to make our game as safe as it can possibly be for players at all levels within the rugby family.”

Steward was surprised by the numbers and called for contact training to be a “thing of the past” to mitigate the frightening findings.

“Contact training during the week should be viewed as virtually a thing of the past, getting rid of as much as possible.

“Look at the number of matches being played and ask, ‘Is this credible that young men and women can be playing week-in, week-out, for the majority of the year just for entertainment?”

Non-profit lobby group, Progressive Rugby, called for the sport’s governing bodies to take note of the research and implement suitable solutions.

“Rugby remains a wonderful game but at the elite level it has become a contest featuring such brutal collisions that urgent changes, as outlined in Progressive Rugby’s 7-point plan published in August, are needed to better protect the short and long-term health of the players,” Prof John Fairclough said.

“Within that plan we highlight the importance of reducing exposure of players to contact training, restricting the number of games, and providing protected rest periods as well as implementing more cautious return-to-play protocols.

“If the governing bodies truly wish to secure the future of this great game for future generations it’s time for them to stop avoiding the inconvenient truth and act swiftly to demonstrate player welfare really is the game’s number one priority.”

Meanwhile, Dr Susan Kolhaas, who is the director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK said further and complete research needs to be done into head injuries in rugby.

“At Alzheimer’s Research UK, we have outlined the most important priorities for researchers to complete the picture, including studying the impact of head injuries in women, at grass roots, and in the modern game, none of which were the focus of this research,” Dr Kohlhaas said.

READ MORE: United Rugby Championship: Malakai Fekitoa’s best soon to come for Munster