Female rugby players sidelined for longer than male players after concussion, UL study finds

Captain Erin King during an Ireland Women's Rugby squad training session in Dublin. The findings highlight that 46% of females, compared with 30% of males, experience severe time loss following concussion, which is defined as more than 28 days away from play. Photo: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

New research from the University of Limerick (UL) examining concussion among grassroots rugby players in Ireland has found that female players are more likely than male players to experience lengthy spells on the sidelines following concussion.

The findings highlight that 46% of females, compared with 30% of males, experience severe time loss following concussion, which is defined as more than 28 days away from play.

Published in Sports Health, the UL study by Dr Ian Kenny and Professor Tom Comyns analysed data from 5,740 players 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.

The study found that 93.9% of recorded concussions occurred during matches, with most matchday injuries occurring during 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 study also highlighted that forwards sustained more sport-related concussion injuries than backs, in both male and female cohorts.

The findings aim to 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 also contributes to the ongoing work of the Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance project, which is seeking stronger evidence base for player welfare and injury prevention.

The researchers wrote: “Sports medicine staff, coaches, and players should be aware of factors associated with increased risk for sport-related concussion and time loss from this injury.

“Future research should focus on highlighting potential pre- and post-injury variables within this cohort, which may be associated with sport-related concussion and time loss from injury, to better inform future clinical decision making and sport-related concussion management in rugby.”