The Biology Behind Rugby Injuries

Photo by Isabella Sofia

In my life I have played many sports, but none of them compare to rugby. Rugby has to be on the top of the list of my favorite sports of all time and definitely my favorite sport to play. Within the 2 years I have played this sport, I have witnessed many different injuries, whether it be on myself, fellow teammates, or the other team and let me say they range from little cuts to major breakages.

1. Cuts and scrapes- One of the most common and plentiful injuries that happen during a game, usually cause by getting tackled and rubbing against the ground, or getting scratched in the process of getting tackled. Simply enough, it is the breakage of skin due to pressure against the skin from a foreign object. This could either just cause a burn appearance, where just the top layer of skin breaks and exposes a deeper layer, draw blood, meaning that is much deeper, or it is a mixture of both. 
2. Bruises- Another very common injury that is acquired during play time. If a player is seen at any point after a game, at least one bruise could be seen on them, trust me on this one. It is caused by capillary breakage under the skin, and no skin break, with the blood pooling under the skin, giving it the black and blue appearance. This injury is usually cause by player on player contact of some kind, usually a tackle.

   

   Photo by Isabella Sofia

3. Dislocations- This happens every once in a while usually after a player tries to tackle another player. This happens with poor arm placement while trying to tackle another player running at speed and the arm gets hyperextended. The shoulder gets dislocated at the joint and, from what I have witnessed on the field, just kind of resets itself or will have to get reset by the paramedics. It is very painful and is caused by the joint popping out of the socket and the ripping of the tendons that hold the bone in the joint. It causes the injured player to be taken out of play.
4. Bloody Nose- Caused by force from one player to the nose of another causing bleeding to occur. This could happen with many different plays from being tackled to getting stiff armed to rucking. That force causes the capillaries in the nose to burst and start bleeding. For this the player would need to apply pressure to the nose to try and stop the bleeding. The player will be taken out of the game for an indefinite amount of time pending if the bleeding could be controlled, if it could be the player will be put back into play.

   

   Photo by Isabella Sofia
5. Broken Bones- The worst injury of all to witness. This is cause by any different things and the ones that I have witnessed have been when a player has been sat on, has tried to tackle, or has been tackled. Bones break when a very large amount of force is put on it in a direction that the bone can not handle. The bone will either have to be set back into place, like a hand, or there are some bones that will just have to set on their own, like ribs. This will cause a player to be taken out of play and sent to the hospital, which will have them out of games for a long time, usually the rest of the season.