Research Partner For Injury Surveillance And Prevention Programme
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has today launched a tender process for a research partner to assist in the development and roll-out of an injury surveillance, reporting and prevention programme for the amateur game in Ireland.
The programme, which will be funded by the IRFU on a multi-annual basis, aims to collect long term injury data across the amateur game from mini rugby through to Ulster Bank League level to assist in the development of an injury prevention programme.
The research project will enable the IRFU to:
- Measure the incidence, nature and severity of injury
- Monitor trends in injury over time
- Gain insight into the possible causes of injury
- Target research or further investigation into causal factors and mechanisms
- Plan, implement and evaluate measures to prevent injury
The IRFU is seeking applications from individuals and/or organisations to partner on this project which will commence in January 2016.
This latest initiative forms part of the IRFU’s on-going concussion strategy, which targets education as a driver for cultural change in relation to the issue. For more information, please visit www.irishrugby.ie/concussion.
Dr Rod McLoughlin, the IRFU’s Head of Medical Services, commented: “The IRFU sees huge value in working with an external research partner to help map and roll-out a comprehensive injury surveillance, reporting and prevention programme.
“This project will allow the IRFU to avail of additional skill-sets, knowledge and resources while providing an independent and data driven insight on injuries within the amateur game.””
The IRFU Medical Department is currently supporting a number of research projects aimed at getting a better insight into injury occurrence, diagnosis and prevention:
- Ulster Schoolboys Injury Surveillance Study: Ulster Rugby, Mitre Charity & IRFU
- Impact biomechanics of concussion in elite rugby players: TCD Dept of Engineering, IRCSET & IRFU
- Balance testing in elite rugby players with concussion: World Rugby, UCD & IRFU
- Knowledge to and attitudes of Irish GPs to concussion: UCD & IRFU
- Headgear in Rugby: Contego Sports & IRFU
Those interested in submitting a tender can download the tender document here.
The deadline for submission of tenders is 5pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2015.