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A Comparison of Football and Rugby Tackling During Spring Ball

Objective The study examined the effects tackling style has on forces translated to the brain in football and rugby. Background Tackling is linked to concussion due to high or repetitive impact forces. A small number of NFL teams are incorporating the rugby tackle mechanics due to keeping the head out of the way. Rugby style tackle use is increasing in football. Design/Methods A convenient sample of 30 male football and rugby participants from two universities participated in this observational study. 20 football participants (20 ± 1.61 YO, 71.63 ± 2.71 in, 210.84 ± 45.52 lbs.) had impact sensors placed in the helmet (CUE™ Sports Sensor, Athlete Intelligence, Kirkland, WA) and 10 rugby participants (20.22 ± 3.31 YO, 70.78 ± 2.11 in, 211.78 ± 40.62 lbs.) were fitted with an instrumented mouthguard (VECTOR™ Sports Sensor, Athlete Intelligence, Kirkland, WA) during their respective spring seasons. Participants practiced without intervention. Devices were returned to researchers after activity, and the data was uploaded. Welch’s ANOVA with a Games-Howell post-hoc analyzed the data with significance set at 0.05. Results Football participants tallied 3921 impacts over the course of 12 practices, compared to 1868 impacts over 9 practices received by rugby participants. Welch’s ANOVA determined that there is a difference in the frequency of impacts between football and rugby participants (Welch’s F (1, 4119.84) = 29.41, p < 0.001). Football participants encountered linear impacts at 62.95 ± 36.57g. Rugby participants sustained impacts 20.59 ± 15.79g. The Welch’s ANOVA determined a difference in impact force between the football and rugby participants exists (Welch’s F (1, 5741.884) = 3780.385, p < 0.001). Conclusions Impact frequency appears to be lower in rugby athletes than football athletes during spring ball. Also, the average impact force appears to be less in rugby athletes. The use of a rugby-style tackle generated lower impact forces in athletes when contact occurs.