The IRFU have announced a long-term research partnership with the University of Limerick focusing on injury monitoring and prevention in the amateur game.
Last year tenders were invited for the development and implementation of a long-term high quality injury surveillance and prevention programme across the amateur game.
The University of Limerick won the tender and the different elements, including assessment of the impact of rule changes on injury incidence will commence during the new season.
It will cover all grades from the Ulster Bank League down through the full range of the amateur game and age grade rugby.
“Player welfare is the IRFU’s number one priority at all levels of the game,” said Dr Rod McLoughlin, Head of Medical Services at the IRFU.
“I believe that research into our amateur game will ensure continued protection for all players.”
“There are inherent difficulties in conducting injury surveillance within community sport. It is widely recognised that injury surveillance at this level presents more challenges than at the elite end of the game, which has trained personnel to record data and the requisite professional resources to monitor injury occurrences and trends.”
“The IRFU invited tenders for an injury surveillance programme to collect injury data from across the domestic game in Ireland. This is a long-term project, which will provide continuous data for analysis and shape our approach to injury prevention in the amateur game.
The research at the University of Limerick will be led by Dr Tom Comyns and Dr Ian Kenny.
