This infographic on injuries in schoolboy rugby makes sobering viewing

New research at Ulster University shows nearly a fifth of injuries are concussion related.

The study by Ulster University, in collaboration with the Rugby Injury Surveillance Ulster Schools (RISUS) group, was carried out in 28 grammar schools across Northern Ireland, involving 825 players on 1st XV rugby squads with an average age of 16.9 years.

The first set of data collected over the 2014/15 season recorded 426 injuries of which 204 resulted in an absence from the sport for longer than 28 days.