Citation

Brown JC, Boucher SJ, Lambert M, Viljoen W, Readhead C, Hendricks S, Kraak WJ. J. Sci. Med. Sport 2018; 21(6): 631-634.

Affiliation

Leeds Beckett University, Institute for Sport, Physical Activity and Health, United Kingdom.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Sports Medicine Australia, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsams.2017.10.016

PMID

29097230

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The tackle event in rugby union ('rugby') contributes to the majority of players' injuries. Referees can reduce this risk by sanctioning dangerous tackles. A study in elite adult rugby suggests that referees only sanction a minority of illegal tackles. The aim of this study was to assess if this finding was similar in youth community rugby.

DESIGN: Observational study.

METHODS: Using EncodePro, 99 South African Rugby Union U18 Youth Week tournament matches were coded between 2011 and 2015. All tackles were coded by a researcher and an international referee to ensure that laws were interpreted correctly. The inter- and intra-rater reliabilities were 0.97-1.00. A regression analysis compared the non-sanctioned rates over time.

RESULTS: In total, 12 216 tackles were coded, of which less than 1% (n=113) were 'illegal'. The majority of the 113 illegal tackles were front-on (75%), high tackles (72%) and occurred in the 2nd/4th quarters (29% each). Of the illegal tackles, only 59% were sanctioned. The proportions of illegal tackles and sanctioning of these illegal tackles to all tackles improved by 0.2% per year from 2011-2015 (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In these youth community rugby players, 59% of illegal tackles were not sanctioned appropriately. This was better than a previous study in elite adult rugby, where only 7% of illegal tackles were penalised. Moreover, the rates of illegal tackles and non-sanctioned illegal tackles both improved over time. However, it is critical that referees consistently enforce all laws to enhance injury prevention efforts. Further studies should investigate the reasons for non-sanctioning.

Copyright © 2017 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Dangerous behaviour; Football; Wounds and injury