KEY POINTS:
Rugby players are three times more likely to be injured than their soccer counterparts but when it comes to treatment at Auckland's top medical centre, the shape of the ball does not matter.
Given the numbers playing the two codes in the country, soccer's world governing body, Fifa,
saw New Zealand as an ideal model for a study in which the number and severity of injuries in the two sports were subjected to the closest possible scrutiny.
That study, instigated by Fifa and under the direction of their chief medical officer Professor Jiri Dvorak, who also heads their Medical Assessment and Research Centre, was instigated in 2000 and has led to the adidas Sports Medicine Centre in Auckland being recognised as one of the world's best.
Dvorak has been a regular visitor to the Glen Innes-based centre which provides a wide range of medical support including orthopaedic surgeons, sports physicians, physiotherapy, podiatry and massage therapists.
He was on hand when the Auckland facility was duly recognised and followed similar centres in Zurich (Fifa's headquarters), Santa Monica and Japan in being rigorously tested and awarded Fifa Medical Centre of Excellence status.
"There are two more centres, in South Africa and Germany, to follow Auckland in being recognised in this way," said Dvorak who oversees the "purely research" programme which has annual Fifa funding of US$3.5 million ($4.5 million) and calls on a further US$500,000 for "education purposes". Much of that is aimed at preventive measures.
Fifa share their research results with other sports at the highest level including the International Rugby Board and the International Olympic Committee.
Dr Tony Edwards, a sports physician and partner at the centre, said the clinic was thrilled to be recognised by the world's largest sporting body.
"It's a great honour for the centre and the culmination of many years of hard work," said Edwards. "We are constantly striving to provide top medical services to football throughout Oceania."
The centre has supported many sporting teams including the All Blacks, the Blues, the Warriors, the Black Sticks and Auckland cricket teams as well as many soccer teams. They work closely with students at Auckland University and the Unisports Centre for Sports Science and Auckland Cardiology.