Rugby League Leads Injury Prevention

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Rugby League Leads Injury Prevention

Auckland, New Zealand 20 August 2010 – New Zealand Rugby League injury figures continue to fall, breaking the myth it’s the country’s most dangerous sport.

The NZRL's Community Programmes Manager Dain Guttenbeil says latest statistics show that their partnership with ACC in reducing injuries has been ground breaking.

“As a sport we are continually striving to ensure we reduce injury rates and make the game even safer for all who participate”, says Guttenbeil.

Since ACC and the NZRL partnered again in 2008 to redevelop the Rugby League Injury Prevention Programme, the incidence and severity of injuries have dramatically reduced, while anecdotal evidence suggests increases in participation levels.

“In many ways the sport of Rugby League has been a leader in the area of injury prevention, safety and education. Over the past several years the sport has got back on track to ensure safety is a priority for people coming into the game,” says Guttenbeil.

ACC Programme Manager for Sport Joe Harawira attributes the milestone to the proactive approach of NZRL and the wider rugby league community. “NZRL are committed to developing a culture that is founded on safe participation and therefore supports ACC’s key injury prevention strategies”.

The NZRL Football Manager Tony Kemp has overseen the formation of several key advisory bodies looking at rules, policies and development strategies to ensure the game played in New Zealand is appropriate for its participants.

“The game in New Zealand is not the NRL or Superleague that people see on the television. We are committed to ensuring the game is modified to ensure the safety of all of those involved and to progress them through a structured pathway to elite football,” says Kemp.

“For people looking for a sport to put their children in, they can be confident that the game of Rugby League is a safe option,” says Kemp. “We are focused on making the game even safer at all levels for people to play and stay on the field, not on the side lines nursing injuries.”

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