ORIGINAL ARTICLES  SPORT INJURIES AND REHABILITATION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2011 September;51(3):435-43

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The effect of player positional groups on the nature of tackles that result in tackle-related injuries in professional rugby league matches

King D. A. ^{1, 2}, Hume P. A. ², Clark T. ³ ✉

¹ Emergency Department, Hutt Valley District Health Board, Lower Hutt, New Zealand; ² Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand, School of Sport and Recreation, Faculty of Health and, Environmental Science, AUT University, New Zealand; ³ Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, College of Science, Massey University Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the effect of player positional groups on the nature of tackles that result in tackle-related injuries in professional rugby league matches.
METHODS:Prospective observational epidemiology analyses for tackle-related injuries and video analyses for the nature of tackles were conducted for a single team in the National Rugby League (NRL) throughout the 2007 and 2008 competitions for a total of 48 games. Risk ratios (RR) were calculated for comparisons between positional groups (adjustable, hit-up forwards or outside backs).
RESULTS:The total missed match tackle-related injury rate was 57.8 per 1 000 player hours. Hit-up forwards recorded significantly more total tackle-related injuries than outside backs (RR: 1.3; P=0.049), but not more than adjustables (RR: 1.0; P=0.922). Hit-up forwards recorded significantly more chest-back tackle-related injuries than adjustables (RR: 6.0; P=0.008). Outside backs recorded significantly more tackle injuries as the ball carrier than the tackler (RR: 2.4; P=0.015) while adjustables recorded significantly more tackle injuries as the tackler than the ball carrier (RR: 1.8; P<0.001). Hit-up forwards had a higher incidence of contusions, and sprains while adjustables had a higher incidence of fracture/dislocations. There were no differences in injury severity between the positional groups.
CONCLUSION:Player positional group had an effect on tackle-related injury type and injury site. Hit-up forwards and outside backs recorded more tackle-related injuries as a ball carrier than as a tackler, while in contrast, adjustables recorded more tackle-related injuries as the tackler than the ball carrier.