Rugby becoming safer sport, says research

Playing rugby in New Zealand is not as dangerous as it once was according to new figures released today by the University of Otago's injury prevention research unit.

The unit's evaluation of a five-year national programme to reduce rugby injuries reveal the injury rate amongst rugby players dropped by 5.5 per cent between 1993 and 1998.

A 1993 study of players aged 16 and older revealed an injury rate of 10.9 per 100 player games.

National surveys in 1997-98 showed the rate was only 5.4 per 100 player games.

The study also found that Accident Compensation Corporation entitlements for rugby injuries declined 22 per cent during a similar period, from 7194 in 1994-95 to 5587 in 1998-99.