Rugby Scrum

SCHEDULE 2 THE PROJECT

‘Biomechanics of the Rugby Scrum’

Research Project for the International Rugby Board (acting through its operating entity IRFB Services (Ireland) Limited)

Updated February 2010

100218 SA UOB Research Agreement - SCHEDULE 2 - THE PROJECT (Final)

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Project Title:

Biomechanics of the Rugby Scrum

Investigators (CVs attached as an appendix): University of Bath:
Dr Grant Trewartha (Principal Investigator) Lecturer in Biomechanics Health, Sport & Exercise Science School for Health (E: [e-mail]) Dr Mike England (Co-Investigator) RFU Community Rugby Medical Officer Hon. Senior Lecturer, School for Health (E: [e-mail]) Dr Keith Stokes (Co – Investigator) Lecturer in Exercise Physiology
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Context: Competitive scrummaging is a valued component of rugby union but this phase of play has been associated with chronic injuries and a disproportionate number of serious injuries to players. • Problem: A need has been identified to re-visit the biomechanical demands experienced by players during the rugby scrum, particularly during scrum engagement. • Description: This document sets out a programme of work to investigate the biomechanical demands of scrummaging in two main phases. Phase 1 will primarily deliver information on machine scrummaging and will further investigate opportunities for assessing live scrummaging. Phase 2 will investigate the biomechanics of live scrummaging. • Purpose: The primary aim of this programme of work is to provide accurate, up-to-date information on the biomechanical demands experienced by rugby forwards during scrummaging with a view to providing objective evidence on techniques leading to effective and safe scrummaging. • Outcomes: • To establish the biomechanics of different scrummaging techniques to assess potential injury risk • To identify playing, coaching and match official techniques that provide for effective scrummaging with a reduced risk of serious injury to players • To provide data and information to enable Law amendments to be considered in relation to the scrum • Significance: It is envisaged that this programme of work will provide valuable information to the International Rugby Board (IRB) and
The movement-related research of this group relocated to a newly renovated suite of laboratories and offices in September 2007. This £1 million investment in physical infrastructure now combines with the group’s state-of-theart research instrumentation which includes an automatic 3-D motion analysis system (Coda CX-1), synchronised to high-speed video, force plate and telemeteric EMG systems. Within rugby union research Dr Grant Trewartha has conducted research studies focusing on the biomechanical aspects of individual skills including goal kicking (Bezodis et al., 2007) and lineout throwing (Trewartha et al., 2008) as well as technique interventions for injury prevention during side-step movements (Trewartha et al., 2007). Dr Trewartha has also previously researched the development of innovative technologies for the automatic measurement of human motion (Trewartha et al., 2003; Yeadon et al., 2004). In collaborative research studies, Dr Trewartha and Dr Keith Stokes have coordinated studies investigating the measurement and evaluation of the physical demands of elite rugby union (Roberts et al., 2006; Roberts et al., 2008), the epidemiology of rugby injury in school-level and academy-level