Breast Injuries in Women's Rugby Union: A Comparison of Prospective and Retrospective Surveillance.
6 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Science, Medicine, and Health, Breast Research Australia, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
- 2Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Moore Park, NSW, Australia.
- 3Sport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
- 4Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians, Northside Sports Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- 5School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- 6School of Health Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Abstract
Retrospective research has reported a high prevalence of breast injuries in women's rugby union (RU); however, most injuries are not reported to medical staff. This study compared the incidence and severity of breast injuries collected both prospectively and retrospectively over a comparable match exposure period. Prospective surveillance was conducted by clinicians (n = 14) using an online injury surveillance system across 140 RU players. Retrospective surveillance was conducted using an anonymous online survey completed by 370 RU players. Injury incidence was calculated per 1000 hours of match exposure. Severity was assessed using breast pain, bruising and swelling, ability to continue play, perceived effect on performance, and long-term breast changes. Three breast injuries were prospectively recorded over 1204 hours of competition (2.5 injuries/1000 hours). In contrast, 144 breast injuries were reported retrospectively over 5055 hours of competition (28.5 injuries/1000 hours). The retrospective injury rate was significantly higher than the prospective rate (IRR = 11.4, 95% CI: 3.15-41.73; p < 0.002). Ninety-six percent (n = 139) of retrospectively reported injuries had not been disclosed to medical staff. Injury severity was similar between surveillance methods, with bruising commonly reported, all players continuing to participate despite injury, and over half perceiving a negative effect on performance. Long-term breast changes were reported by 6% (n = 8) of players. The substantially lower incidence recorded prospectively suggests that breast injuries are underreported in women's RU. Improved reporting and surveillance strategies are required to better capture breast injuries and support female athlete health and performance.
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BibTeX
@article{donnelly2026breast,
title = {{Breast Injuries in Women's Rugby Union: A Comparison of Prospective and Retrospective Surveillance.}},
author = {Elizabeth Ellen Donnelly and Warren McDonald and Sharon Stay and Chari Stewart and Marijka Batterham and Deirdre McGhee},
journal = {European journal of sport science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/ejsc.70281},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42960524},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Breast Injuries in Women's Rugby Union: A Comparison of Prospective and Retrospective Surveillance.
AU - Elizabeth Ellen Donnelly
AU - Warren McDonald
AU - Sharon Stay
AU - Chari Stewart
AU - Marijka Batterham
AU - Deirdre McGhee
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - European journal of sport science
DO - 10.1002/ejsc.70281
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42960524
AB - Retrospective research has reported a high prevalence of breast injuries in women's rugby union (RU); however, most injuries are not reported to medical staff. This study compared the incidence and severity of breast injuries collected both prospectively and retrospectively over a comparable match exposure period. Prospective surveillance was conducted by clinicians (n = 14) using an online injury surveillance system across 140 RU players. Retrospective surveillance was conducted using an anonymous online survey completed by 370 RU players. Injury incidence was calculated per 1000 hours of match exposure. Severity was assessed using breast pain, bruising and swelling, ability to continue play, perceived effect on performance, and long-term breast changes. Three breast injuries were prospectively recorded over 1204 hours of competition (2.5 injuries/1000 hours). In contrast, 144 breast injuries were reported retrospectively over 5055 hours of competition (28.5 injuries/1000 hours). The retrospective injury rate was significantly higher than the prospective rate (IRR = 11.4, 95% CI: 3.15-41.73; p < 0.002). Ninety-six percent (n = 139) of retrospectively reported injuries had not been disclosed to medical staff. Injury severity was similar between surveillance methods, with bruising commonly reported, all players continuing to participate despite injury, and over half perceiving a negative effect on performance. Long-term breast changes were reported by 6% (n = 8) of players. The substantially lower incidence recorded prospectively suggests that breast injuries are underreported in women's RU. Improved reporting and surveillance strategies are required to better capture breast injuries and support female athlete health and performance.
SN - 1746-1391
SN - 1536-7290
ER -