by Rugby league players say the training ground will be the next battleground with the NRL in a bid to protect brain health, after a survey found almost half of female players continue to s training after suffering a suspected concussion.
Brain injury research has identified not only concussions as a potential threat to long-term health, but also the repetitive non-concussion impacts that players experience every week in high-performance football environments.
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This year’s RLPA player survey, released Tuesday, indicates that practice environments remain a “dead spot” for the game.
The RLPA said the game must introduce contact load assessments, use technology to monitor impacts during training and advance research into concussion symptoms and recovery for both men’s and women’s games.
46% of female players reported continuing to train after suffering a suspected concussion, compared to 36% of men. 33% of women and 20% of men felt compelled to continue training due to concussion symptoms.
“Changing attitudes towards reporting is essential to fostering a psychologically safe environment in which players feel encouraged, not deterred, from prioritizing their health and wellbeing,” the report said.
82% of NRL players believe the optimal number of contact sessions per week during pre-season in order to feel ready for round one is no more than two. But coaches usually schedule four or more.
The NRL’s current bargaining agreement expires in 2027, but the RLPA will push to improve training standards before then. World Rugby and the NFL already limit contact training.
The NRL was previously asked to review training practices following the coroner’s report into the death of Manly front-rower Keith Titmus during a 2020 pre-season session.
Professor Alan Pearce, assistant research fellow at Swinburne University’s Neuroimaging Centre, said professional leagues now recognize the risks to brain health, but their responses do not always prioritize player welfare. “A lot of it is PR and lip service, but we don’t see the action needed, at all levels as well,” he said.
The NRL is currently funding an RLPA-supported research project undertaken by the Australian Catholic University into training loads, but analysis of data collected over two years so far is only just beginning. A three-year, $105,000 annual part-time position was announced this month, “to analyze large data sets regarding team sports training loads, competition schedules and injury profiles.” “.
The AFL committed to reviewing training loads in response to a recommendation made by the inquest into the death of Shane Tuck and has worked this year with clubs, coaches and the Players’ Association AFL.
In partnership with the Victorian Government, the AFL last week announced a study examining the impacts of concussions suffered by AFLW players.
“Protecting past, present and future players from the health and safety risks presented by sports-related concussions and other head injuries is a key priority for the AFL,” the AFL general counsel said , Stephen Meade.
“We have six people working full time in this space, have made over 30 changes to the rules, courts and match review guidelines and continue to conduct more research and evolve our rules and approach as we go. that we learn more.”
Pearce said players’ associations needed independent research to ensure player welfare was a priority. “If they want to implement these initiatives, they should really hire independent researchers and people to do it, so that they have full confidence in what we’re seeing,” he said.
The Australian Sports Commission first released guidelines on return-to-play protocols for elite sport in January. Rugby Australia has introduced laws banning tackles above the sternum in levels of competition below Super Rugby over the past year in an attempt to reduce the number of concussions.
