Sport-related concussion in French amateur rugby: A descriptive cross-sectional survey on adult player management, medical care and knowledge.

BACKGROUND

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has established regulations to protect amateur players from the risks of concussions. To assess compliance with the FFR protocol, our objectives were to evaluate players' knowledge in a sample of rugby clubs and to analyze the management of recent concussions, including the rate of concussion reporting to the FFR.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional descriptive survey, amateur adult rugby players from FFR-licensed clubs in southwestern France were interviewed during the 2019/2020 and 2021/2022 seasons. Players were asked to complete a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Among the 193 players surveyed, only 27% (n = 52) reported being aware of the return-to-play protocol. Of the 28 players (14.5%) who experienced a recent concussion, just 11 sought medical attention and only 3 of these concussions were officially reported to the FFR. Fewer than half of the players who received guidance on a gradual return to sports followed the recommendations in full.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the need for educational initiatives to raise awareness within clubs.