Clubs are fighting fit when it comes to their players’ health, says report

746 match injuries at Premiership clubs were reported; this equates to an average of 62 match injuries per club per season and 1.9 injuries per club per match with each injury leading to an average of 21 days absence from training and/or playing.

The likelihood of sustaining a match injury increased from 80 injuries per 1,000 hours in 2009-10 to 93 injuries per 1,000 hours in 2010-11. This equates to an increase of 0.3% injuries per club per match or 110 more injuries over the course of the season compared with 2009-10.

Although the likelihood of sustaining a match injury increased by 16% in 2010-11 compared with 2009-10, it remained comfortably within the “normal range” seen since the study began in 2002 and reflects normal season by season variation rather than any statistically significant change in injury risk. The average severity of injury reduced from 22 days in 2009-10 to 21 days in 2010-11, which also reflects normal season by season variation.

The small increase in the match injury risk seen in 2010-11 compared with 2009-10 appears to be as a result of both an increase in a number of different injuries that resulted in 4-7 days absence and a very small absolute increase in injuries that resulted in more than 84 days absence.

340 training injuries at Premiership clubs were reported; this equates to an average of 28 training injuries per club per season. Injuries occurring during rugby skill sessions resulted in an average of 25 days absence from training and/or playing.

The likelihood of sustaining an injury during training increased by 16% in 2010-11(2.8 injuries per 1000 hrs) compared with 2009-10 (2.4 injuries per 1000 hrs).

Days absence due to Knee Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) ruptures (an uncommon match injury that typically results in more than 84 days absence) increased from 3 (2009-10) to 5 in 2010-11.