Aims. To establish trends in frequency of serious spinal cord injuries
in rugby and rugby league over a 20 year period and to elucidate patt
erns of injury from retrospective analysis of cases admitted to New Ze
aland's two spinal injuries units. Methods. A detailed survey of unit
records with follow-up of selected patients; statistical analysis of d
ata. Results. During the 20 years 1976 to 1995, 119 rugby and 22 rugby
league players (total 141) were admitted to New Zealand's two spinal
injuries units suffering serious spinal injuries and 47 of these becam
e permanently confined to wheelchairs. There was a steady increase in
frequency throughout the period studied. Of the injuries 83% occurred
in forwards and 17% in backs. In rugby it was the scrum which produced
most injuries, and in rugby league it was the tackle. The early seaso
n month of April produced most spinal injuries. In the eighteen months
since intense compulsory educational programmes on safety were introd
uced by the New Zealand Rugby Union there have been no serious spinal
cord injuries from rugby scrums. Conclusion. Contrary to widespread be
lief, there has not been a decrease in spinal cord injuries in rugby f
ollowing rule changes in the mid 1980s. The information produced by th
is retrospective study has been an effective educational platform to m
ake rugby and rugby league safer.