Abstract / Summary
The aim of this study was to describe and compare the propensity of head acceleration events (HAEs) using instrumented mouthguards (iMG) during the scrum and maul events in a season of elite-level Men's and Women's rugby union matches. iMG data were collected from 255 men and 133 women and synchronised to video-coded match footage. Mean propensity values were calculated across different recordings for scrum and maul characteristics.. Propensity includes non-HAE events. Head resultant peak linear acceleration (PLA) and peak angular acceleration (PAA) were extracted for each event. Significance was determined based on 95% CI not overlapping across recording thresholds. For men, the playing position during the scrum exhibited a greater propensity for the second row compared to the first row, between 10 g and 30 g. No significant differences were observed for the maul for both the men's and women's game. These data offer valuable benchmarks for future research and HAE mitigation strategies in elite level rugby union players.