New Publication: Sport-related Concussion Characteristics and Time-loss Among Male and Female Community Rugby Union Players Across 6 Seasons

Researchers from the University of Limerick’s Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (PESS), Dr Ian Kenny and Professor Tom Comyns, have contributed to new research examining sport-related concussion among male and female community rugby union players in Ireland.

Published in Sports Health, the study analysed data from 5,740 player-seasons across six seasons, from 2017/18 to 2023/24, through the Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRIS) system.

The researchers examined 456 reported concussions, exploring when injuries occurred, how they happened and the time players spent away from sport.

Key findings

The study found that 93.9% of recorded concussions occurred during matches, with most match-day injuries occurring in the second half. Tackling was the most common mechanism of concussion among male players, while the causes were more evenly distributed among female players.

The research also found that female players were more likely than male players to experience severe time-loss following concussion, defined as more than 28 days away from play (46% compared with 30%).

These findings highlight the importance of concussion recognition, appropriate management and recovery support in community rugby, while identifying differences in injury patterns between male and female players.

The research contributes to the ongoing work of the IRIS project, supporting a stronger evidence base for player welfare and injury prevention in Irish rugby.

Read the full publication: https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381261474860

Reference

Power, L. C., Comyns, T. M., Purtill, H., Mulvihill, J. J. E., Bibby, K. L., Yeomans, C., Dolan, P., Collins, M. W., Kontos, A. P., & Kenny, I. C. (2026). Sport-related concussion characteristics and time-loss among male and female community rugby union players across 6 seasons. Sports Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381261474860