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Rugby // Posts categorised as Rugby
Protecting the rugby player’s head – the paradox of tackler height and head injury
A look at the World Rugby concussion prevention approach that involves sanctions for dangerous high tackles to protect both players. I explain the rationale behind the strategy, the data and the desired outcomes.
The aging of elite performance: “Geriatric champions” and have the rules for getting older changed?
Yesterday, I was sent this link. It says that Dwain Chambers, he of THG and a doping ban in 2004 (!), is making a comeback, hoping to qualify for Team GB at the European Indoor Championships. At the age of 40. Well, almost 41. My first thought was “Of course he is”, and then upon […]
NUDGE: A data-driven attempt at reducing concussion risk in rugby. A process explained
Rugby, like many contact sports, faces a concussion issue. Over the last three years, I have been involved in research and subsequent law change and education to attempt to reduce concussion risk in the sport. In this article, I explain, step by step, what that process has involved and why certain decisions were made.
Head injuries in Rugby Part 3: The key evidence and law change advice
This is part 3 of the 3-part series on head injuries in rugby. It explores the two most interesting and relevant findings of the research, looking at how the height of the tackle and the body position of the players influences head injury risk. These two items formed the strongest evidence that was used to change the high tackle laws in the sport. We also discuss the next steps and future application of the research.
Head injuries part 2: What makes a tackle risky?
This is the second installment in a series of articles translating recent research I published on the risk of head injuries during rugby. This part looks at the characteristics of the tackle that increase or decrease the risk.
Head injuries in Rugby, Part 1: Principle & high-level view
World Rugby recently changed and clarified laws around the high tackle in an attempt to reduce the number of concussions in the sport. That change was based on an in-depth study of the tackle, done to identify the mechanisms for head injury. This post, the first of a series of three articles on the subject, discusses the process, the principle of the research, and the high level findings.
Has rugby applied high tackle laws, or have referees stopped enforcing them?
Rugby introduced new high tackle laws with stricter sanctions for high tackles, aimed at lowering the height to reduce head injury risk. Recent criticism has suggested that referees are now softening their stance, and failing to apply the new laws, and that nothing has changed and we are back where we started. The data suggest otherwise, as this post explains
Talent ID & Development: IAAF Level 5 and USATF Level 3 lectures
I’ve spent the last week, a very stimulating one, at the IMG Academy in Brandenton Florida, where I’ve lectured on the IAAF Level 5 and USATF Level 3 coaching courses. The specific theme of this year’s Academy was Youth Sport, and I did four lectures in total – three on Talent ID and Specialization issues, […]
2016 publications: From the armchair to the site, via these journals
Much of what you read here on this site is my attempt to translate the research I'm interested in, and which can be applied to the real world, in a way that makes it more "palatable" to you. This post, however, summarizes some of the "source" research, the scientific articles that I've had published in the last 12 months, for those wanting to see the academic side of the discussions we have.