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40%Matches accounted for:LATEST RESEARCH BOOSTS PLAYER LOAD MANAGEMENTThe working group identified the most common factors behind increased risk of injury and noted these should be considered in any injury prevention strategy:• Players entering a new level of competition are more susceptible to injury• Sudden changes in training frequency, intensity, time or type can impact on injuries• Players returning from injury or unresolved previous injuries are at a higher risk of injury• Players who have little training and playing exposure may be at a higher risk of injury owing to a lack of conditioning• Players with very high exposure to training and playing exposure may become more susceptible to acute and gradual injuries owing to physical and mental fatigueIt was highlighted that if the total load is a risk factor for injury, then load management should primarily focus on training. built on positive momentum achieved over the last year.With rugby participation growing at a record rate in emerging rugby markets with more than a third of the 8.5 million playing population under the age of 18, the delegates considered potential strategies to further reduce the risk of injury based on extensive research of injuries in the game.The conference also considered the latest developments in rugby’s strategies in concussion education, prevention, management and research, the success of the tournament player welfare standards programme introduced in 2015 and educational programme best-practice.World Rugby Chief Medical Officer Dr Martin Raftery said: “Our approach is centred around education and in 2016 alone we have seen an 80 per cent increase in the use of our playerwelfare.worldrugby.org website which is delivered in 11 languages. Some 3,100 medics have undertaken our elite immediate care in rugby course, 69,000 people have completed online concussion education and a further 250,000 have undertaken concussion education around the world within our Rugby Ready programme.”of professional players played in 20 matches or more5%of players were involved in 30 matches or more852average match minutes played by players across the season10.7full matches played by players on average across the seasonof total exposure (playing, team and individual training time) on average for elite playersof the total load in terms of effort expended (as rated by players)of injuries sustained5-11% 70-75% 15-27% PLAYER WELFARE | EDUCATE