The effectiveness of headgear in rugby union

· Concussions make up 5% of injuries in rugby

· Concussion rates increased after 1995 when rugby turned professional

· University of Dundee study found the best headgear decreased the impact on the head by 47%

· Headgear is marketed for abrasions and scraps and not concussions

Rugby union limits the amount of head protection a player can wear during a match, due to this, concussions count for 5% of injuries in the sport.

A concussion is classified as a mild traumatic brain injury, which is caused by impact to the head that forces the brain to shake quickly.

Rugby turned professional in 1995 and according to the BMJ, the strength of players has increased, which has resulted in the increased rate of concussions.

A team of scientists representing the University of Dundee reported that “some mainstream products will mitigate impact levels on the head by 47%”. The study also had a major focus on the issue that there should be mandatory use for headgear in all levels of rugby.

In the study, there were seven head devices tested, where the best device saw a decrease in impact force by 47%, even the least effective head device saw a decrease in 27%. The results of the study further support the claims that there should be mandatory use of headgear in all levels of rugby.

The essence of using headgear in rugby isn’t an attempt to turn it into a sport like the NFL with hard helmets but to make the sport safer for all involved. World Rugby has strict regulations on headgear, where the device can only be of a certain thickness, they can only use approved materials and the materials used can only be of a certain density.

The headgear is also marketed to prevent abrasions and scrapes for players and not to assist in preventing concussions.

According to the study’s lead author Erin Frizzell, the effectiveness of all the products tested were surprising, given they aren’t designed to prevent concussions.

The study has proved that headgear is effective when used, as it decreases the impact by 27-47%. However, if the regulations on headgear were changed by World Rugby, it’s hard not to wonder what companies could develop to prevent concussions.