Cardiff University Tracks Head Impacts in 30 Female Rugby Players Over 1 Season

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 8

30 female rugby players were monitored across a full season in what Cardiff University says is the first study of its kind focused on women, using instrumented mouthguards and, for some players, MRI scans.
Researchers launched the project because concussion and head-injury protocols in rugby are still largely based on male data, even as some evidence suggests female brains may be more vulnerable to injury.
Player Ffion Jones, 22, said the study changed how she responds to blows to the head, after years of treating knocks as part of the game; she also cited teammates whose concussions disrupted daily life and kept one out for about 6 months.
Peter Theobald said the goal is to detect effects of repeated impacts earlier and build evidence for future safety guidance and sporting protocols as women's participation in contact sport rises across the UK.

Sources

BBC.com4h ago

Cardiff University Study Examines Head Impacts in Female Rugby Players

Yahoo News Canada4h ago

First-of-its-kind women's rugby head injury study 'makes me stop and think' - Yahoo News Canada

bbc.co.uk4h ago

First-of-its-kind study on head injuries in female rugby players - BBC News

As research reveals female concussion risks, will new rules radically change how women's contact sports are played?

With women's sports revenues soaring, why has the science for protecting female athletes been left so far behind?

Only 6% of Sports Concussion Studies Focus on Women: Cardiff University’s 2026 Rugby Research Aims to Change That

Overview

Cardiff University launched a groundbreaking study in 2026 to address the substantial gender gap in sports concussion research, where historically only 6% of studies have focused entirely on female athletes. Led by Dr. Peter Theobald and Freya Butcher, the study is a conscious effort to exclusively study female rugby players, tracking head impacts in 30 athletes over a full season. The primary goal is to provide clearer, evidence-based information about the risks associated with contact sports for women, recognizing the critical need for data specific to female athletes and aiming to improve their safety and wellbeing.

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