Considering Occupational Safety Awareness in Elite Rugby: A Game of Near-Misses

Rugby players often experience risk exposure that has potentially very serious long-term health implications. Safety and risk awareness in rugby has thus become crucial especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to advance understanding of safety awareness within elite rugby b...

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Main Authors: Yanbing Chen, Cornor Buggy, Karl Fullam, Seamus Kelly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: ORDT: Organization for Research Development and Training 2021-05-01
Series:Journal of Interdisciplinary Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journalofinterdisciplinarysciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-Considering-Occupational-Safety-Awareness-in-Elite-Rugby-A-Game-of-Near-Misses.pdf
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author Yanbing Chen
Cornor Buggy
Karl Fullam
Seamus Kelly
author_facet Yanbing Chen
Cornor Buggy
Karl Fullam
Seamus Kelly
author_sort Yanbing Chen
collection DOAJ
description Rugby players often experience risk exposure that has potentially very serious long-term health implications. Safety and risk awareness in rugby has thus become crucial especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to advance understanding of safety awareness within elite rugby by exploring relationships between players, their behaviors, and the role stakeholders play in support and management. This study explored safety awareness in the context of elite rugby by utilizing document analysis, and an ethnographic approach incorporating observation, and semi-structured interviews. Participants were from rugby teams in Ireland. Observations occurred between August 2017 and May 2018, focusing on training sessions and competitive games. Data gathered were analyzed by thematic analysis using software NVivo. The findings identified three key themes: first, the risk to rugby players long-term health consequences tended to be underestimated; second, risk may be aggregated by players’ risk-taking behavior as a result of social exposure from stakeholders; third, safety practices in rugby, such as injury reporting, need to become more proactive rather than reactive. The dilemma that rugby players who prioritize their performance have to compromise their health-and-wellbeing can be ameliorated by safety culture cultivation, initiating with an encouragement of open communication on safety concerns.
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spelling doaj-art-cb5d6831a97a40bbb70ce2b78a0ab71c2025-08-20T01:57:52ZengORDT: Organization for Research Development and TrainingJournal of Interdisciplinary Sciences2594-34052021-05-0151131Considering Occupational Safety Awareness in Elite Rugby: A Game of Near-MissesYanbing Chen0Cornor Buggy1Karl Fullam2Seamus Kelly3Institute of Sport and Health, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland2Centre for Safety and Health at Work, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, IrelandDBC Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine Clinic Belfield, Institute of Sport and Health, University College Dublin, IrelandInstitute of Sport and Health, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, IrelandRugby players often experience risk exposure that has potentially very serious long-term health implications. Safety and risk awareness in rugby has thus become crucial especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to advance understanding of safety awareness within elite rugby by exploring relationships between players, their behaviors, and the role stakeholders play in support and management. This study explored safety awareness in the context of elite rugby by utilizing document analysis, and an ethnographic approach incorporating observation, and semi-structured interviews. Participants were from rugby teams in Ireland. Observations occurred between August 2017 and May 2018, focusing on training sessions and competitive games. Data gathered were analyzed by thematic analysis using software NVivo. The findings identified three key themes: first, the risk to rugby players long-term health consequences tended to be underestimated; second, risk may be aggregated by players’ risk-taking behavior as a result of social exposure from stakeholders; third, safety practices in rugby, such as injury reporting, need to become more proactive rather than reactive. The dilemma that rugby players who prioritize their performance have to compromise their health-and-wellbeing can be ameliorated by safety culture cultivation, initiating with an encouragement of open communication on safety concerns. https://journalofinterdisciplinarysciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-Considering-Occupational-Safety-Awareness-in-Elite-Rugby-A-Game-of-Near-Misses.pdfhealth and wellbeingrisk-taking behaviorinjury preventionathlete welfareethnographysportsrugby
spellingShingle Yanbing Chen
Cornor Buggy
Karl Fullam
Seamus Kelly
Considering Occupational Safety Awareness in Elite Rugby: A Game of Near-Misses
Journal of Interdisciplinary Sciences
health and wellbeing
risk-taking behavior
injury prevention
athlete welfare
ethnography
sports
rugby
title Considering Occupational Safety Awareness in Elite Rugby: A Game of Near-Misses
title_full Considering Occupational Safety Awareness in Elite Rugby: A Game of Near-Misses
title_fullStr Considering Occupational Safety Awareness in Elite Rugby: A Game of Near-Misses
title_full_unstemmed Considering Occupational Safety Awareness in Elite Rugby: A Game of Near-Misses
title_short Considering Occupational Safety Awareness in Elite Rugby: A Game of Near-Misses
title_sort considering occupational safety awareness in elite rugby a game of near misses
topic health and wellbeing
risk-taking behavior
injury prevention
athlete welfare
ethnography
sports
rugby
url https://journalofinterdisciplinarysciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-Considering-Occupational-Safety-Awareness-in-Elite-Rugby-A-Game-of-Near-Misses.pdf
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