| <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>TheIrish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the University of Limerick(UL) have released the first findings from the Irish Rugby InjurySurveillance (IRIS) research project which looks at injuryincidence in both the men’s and women’s All IrelandLeague (AIL) during the 2017/18season.</span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>IRIS isthe first long-term Rugby Union specific injury surveillanceresearch project within amateur Rugby Union in Ireland. Theresearch records the incidence, type, nature and severity of bothmatch and training injuries occurring across the amateur game inIreland. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>Bymonitoring this information, injury trends may emerge which willaid in the development and implementation of future evidence-basedinjury prevention strategies in order to minimise injury risk andenhance player welfare.</span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>The datawere compiled across 418 matches from 19 AIL Clubs (15 male teams /4 female teams). A total of 479 male players and 129 female playerswere registered with the IRISproject.</span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><b style='outline:none'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>InjuryFrequency</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>A maleplayer would have to play 15 matches to sustain 1injury</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Afemale player would have to play 16 matches to sustain 1injury</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><b style='outline:none'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>InjuryEvent:</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>54% ofmatch & training injuries a result of theTackle</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>54% oftackle related injuries sustained by the BallCarrier</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>46% oftackle related injuries sustained by theTackler</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><b style='outline:none'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>Training InjuryEvent:</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Majority of male training injuries aresult of tackling and contactdrills</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Majority of female training injuries aresult of non-contact / set-piecedrills</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><b style='outline:none'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>Male Match InjuryOccurrence</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>6.1/1,000 playerhours: Concussion</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>5.7/1,000 playerhours: Ankle ligamentsprain</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>4.1/1,000 playerhours: Hamstringstrain</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><b style='outline:none'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>Female Match InjuryOccurrence</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>5.1/1,000 playerhours: Ankle ligamentsprain</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>5.1/1,000 playerhours: Concussion</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>- </span></span></span></span><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>3.2/1,000 playerhours: Rotator cuffstrain</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Dr. RodMcLoughlin, IRFU Medical Director, commented, <i style='outline:none'>"Player welfare is of paramount importance to theIRFU and understanding the nature and type of injury that occurs inRugby is vital in the planning and provision of medical care toplayers.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>Althoughthis is just the first year of collated data from the IRIS projectit is clear that there are a number of areas that require furtherinvestigation to understand how best to support players, coachesand medical practitioners in the amateur game. Thetackle area, concussion and ankle injuries are areas for us toconsider immediately while tracking their occurrence rates over thenext five years of the UL researchpartnership.</span></span></i></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><i style='outline:none'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'>The IRISresearch data will be invaluable in informing how the IRFU addressplayer welfare concerns in the amateur game. As thescope of the research widens to include additional AIL clubs aswell as schools and youth rugby the IRFU will have a robustevidence based insight into injuries within the amateurgame."</span></span></i></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='color:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>Dr. TomComyns, IRIS co-principal investigator University of Limerick,commented, <i style='outline:none'>"Comprehensive injurysurveillance systems in amateur Rugby Union are rare and thisinnovative project to date has involved the research, design andimplementation of an online injury recording platform. Collectionhas now been completed of a full season’s data and this2017/18 season report documents our collaborative work with theIRFU, and with 19 male and female All-Ireland League Clubs. Itrepresents 418 matches, over 600 players, and support fromdedicated data injury recorders, coaches, doctors,physiotherapists, managers and ancillary staff withinclubs."</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'>Dr. IanKenny, IRIS co-principal investigator University of Limerick,commented,</span></span></span> <i style='outline:none'>"The IrishRugby Injury Surveillance (IRIS) project involves research stemmingfrom ongoing sports performance, injury prevention andpsychological preparation work by University of Limerick academicsacross a range of sports, as well as our specific expertise inRugby Union. Annual injury surveillance reports will bepublished over the coming years and the project in the future willalso report on the incidence, nature and severity of injuries inschools, and underage amateurRugby."</i></span></span></span></span> <span style='font-size:12pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><span style='color:black'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'>Full Reportavailable for downloads at<br><a data-ac-default-color='1' href='http://irishrugby.acemlna.com/lt.php?s=2323934bd8ac47bd7cc302ad81be8547&i=194A286A11A940'style='outline:none; color:blue; text-decoration:underline'><span style='color:#006946'><span style='font-size:inherit'><span style='font-weight:inherit'><span style='line-height:inherit'><span style='text-decoration:inherit'>http://www.irishrugby.ie/downloads/IRIS_Report_1718.pdf</span></span></span></span></span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> |
