The Rugby Football Union has re-emphasised its commitment to player safety with the publication of its five-year (1997-2002) review of injuries.

It has stressed that player care is an integral part of the training it provides for the coaches and administrators who work with the 490,000 participants in rugby each week in England.

The review of serious and very serious injuries reported by clubs and school is the second carried out by the RFU following its 1992-97 report.

Terry Burwell, the RFU’s Community Rugby and Operations Director, said: "While contact sports will inevitably produce some very serious injuries, the percentage of those in rugby union in England, in relation to the numbers playing, is relatively small.

"There are two to three very serious neck injuries which lead to tetraplegia in 17.6 million player/game involvements during a season.

"This is a player-centred game. That is why we are investing so much of our time, energy and resources into coach development and education.

"Everybody should be confident in the knowledge that the RFU and those who are dealing with players of all ages and abilities are taking due cognisance of the duty of care requirements of any player.

"It is about ensuring that we have an exciting dynamic product that people want to play but also a safe, secure environment in which to participate. At the top of list when we are vetting, training and working with our coaches is care of the player."

Part of that duty is the correct procedure for dealing with concussion injures, which have slightly decreased in reports by clubs over the past five years.

Any player who suffers concussion must not participate in a match or training session for three weeks from the time of the injury and then only when declared symptom free by a recognised medical practitioner.

"Clubs and schools know the requirements of not playing for three weeks after injuries of this nature," added Burwell.

"We would be extremely concerned if that person was then asked to play before the end of that period. We would take disciplinary action against anyone who was found not to be acting in the best interests of the player."

• There are 1,958 clubs and 3,036 schools affiliated to the Rugby Football Union and to the England Rugby Football Schools’ Union.

• There are 17,640,000 player/game involvements per season based on 36 playing weeks and 490,000 players.

• Clubs and schools are asked to make Serious Injury Returns to the RFU twice a season. There were 10,838 reported serious injuries in clubs and 6133 in schools over the five-year period. The statistics are based on club or school returns of serious and very serious injuries and do not necessarily indicate trends of increased/decreased in injuries sustained.

• Serious injury: Sustained in playing or training which prevents rugby activity for 21 days or more.

 

• Very serious injury: An injury, which because of its severity may result in an insurance claim. This may be sustained in playing, training or travelling to or from a game.

 

• The number of reported knee/leg/foot/ankle injuries increased by 0.9% in clubs and decreased by 0.6% in schools.

 

• The number of reported back/neck/spine injuries decreased by 1.5% in clubs and increased by 0.1% in schools.

 

• The number of reported concussion incidents decreased by 0.1% in clubs and increased by 0.4% in schools.

 

• Reported injuries resulting from foul play increased by 0.1% in clubs and decreased in schools by 1.1%.

 

• Sport accounts for 17% of all spinal injuries. These are dominated by diving and equestrian activity. Rugby accounts for 2% of sports’ total.

 

• There were 14 very serious injuries causing tetraplegia (paralysis of all four limbs) reported in the period compared to 18 in the previous five-year period. In some cases, the speedy action of medics have enabled disabled former players to regain the ability to walk with or without aids.