World Rugby welcomes the outcomes of a wide-ranging study published in Sports Medicine Today that suggests a possible link between a history of concussions and small to moderate cognitive difficulties in athletes following their retirement from competitive sport.
 
The three-year study, conducted by the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in partnership with New Zealand Rugby and funded by World Rugby, investigated long-term differences in cognition between former rugby and non-contact sport players, and assessed the link between concussion history and cognitive function. 

World Rugby: Player safety the game's top priority
World Rugby: Recognise And Remove

 
The research, designed to identify areas of potential health concern, determines the need for continued research into head injuries in order that a better understanding of the short and long term management of head injuries in sport can be optimised and injury prevention further enhanced. 
 
The study involved players who were active at a time when societal and scientific understanding of concussion was not as advanced as it is now and supports the importance of robust education and promotion of correct training and playing techniques as a preventative measure. 
 
World Rugby, in full partnership with its member unions and assisted by leading independent experts, has worked to raise the profile of the importance of head injury recognition and education. The introduction of the World Rugby pitch-side head injury assessment (HIA), supported by innovative technology, has been proven to protect elite players through early recognition and improved management of head injuries. Rugby continues to be committed to improving player welfare and safety using research to support initiatives to protect players at all levels.
 
As a global governing body, World Rugby’s responsibility is to minimise the risk in our sport and we continue to be committed to making rugby as safe and enjoyable as possible for all ages, through education and promotion of correct preparation and playing techniques and prevention strategies. Continued collaboration with leading independent researchers is essential if our understanding is to evolve and allow us to provide the best-possible level of support to players at all levels of the game. 
 
During October, World Rugby will join other international sporting federations and leading independent experts to participate in the fifth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport in Berlin, underscoring our commitment to cross-sport collaboration and standards and is designed to review and standardise on-field concussion management in sport.
 
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “Concussion impacts all sports and World Rugby continues to take a proactive approach in educating and protecting our players at all levels. Studies like this are important to informing our evidence-based approach.
 
“Guided by independent experts and based on increased scientific understanding, rugby is being proactive in this important area. We are changing culture within the sport, our extensive education and management initiatives are working and players have never been so informed and supported when it comes to concussion.
 
“We continue to collaborate with other international sporting federations and bodies to share knowledge and move towards a common cross-sport approach to educating and supporting athletes at all levels of recreation and competition.”
 
Read more about World Rugby’s player welfare standards programme for elite rugby here.

Visit World Rugby’s concussion education website here.

Download World Rugby’s concussion app for free from the ITunes app store