Injuries in Rugby League football

Abstract

All injuries occurring in the top three grades of a New South Wales club were documented over a one-year period (1978). Two hundred and four injuries were recorded and over half of these injuries (51%) occurred in the lower limbs. The injury rate was calculated at one injury per 3.6 man hours of play. There was a significant difference in the type of injury sustained by forwards and backs, the forwards receiving more cuts, bruises and haematomas, and fewer joint injuries. This difference is probably because of the nature of the game played by these subgroups.