The number of injuries in schools rugby in the Karoo region is almost twice the number occurring during the Super Rugby season.

This was one of the findings of a study performed by the Department of Sports Medicine at the University of the Free State (UFS).

The study, led by Dr Louis Holtzhausen from the School of Medicine, also found that a major part of rugby injuries at South African schools are not monitored and managed properly, which already led to frightening consequences.

The study recorded approximately 250 injuries per 1 000 playing hours in the Karoo region as opposed to 167 injuries per 1 000 playing hours during the Super 12 rugby tournament.

Dr Holtzhausen says although injuries are monitored and managed superbly at national schools rugby events, very little (and in some cases none) attention is given to the prevention, treatment and management of injuries during smaller events.

“For most schools rugby matches in South Africa, no programmes are in place to monitor injuries. Individual studies have indicated high numbers of injury incidents.”

Dr Holtzhausen says 54 serious rugby injuries were reported in South African rugby between 2008 and 2011, of which 7% were fatal. About 26% of these led to quadriplegia and about 31% led to neurological defects.

Neck injuries are easy to identify, but traumatic brain injuries, including concussion, are often not diagnosed and/or managed correctly.

“Injuries in schools rugby are not always (fully) reported, but the figure seems to be high. There was an increase in rugby injuries during the past 15 years, as the sporting code became more competitive.“

For more information, or to speak to Dr Louis Holtzhausen, please contact René-Jean van der Berg at 083 645 5940.