World Rugby seeks applications for research funding

As part of its commitment to delivering evidence-based enhancements to player welfare and medical practices, World Rugby is calling for submissions for potential funded research projects.

The move comes after World Rugby outlined its priority research areas for 2015-16, which includes four areas of concussion research and community rugby injury audits.

Interested parties should submit an initial concept document that will be assessed against World Rugby’s current research priorities by the members of the World Rugby Scientific Committee. This initial concept stage will be followed by a more in-depth, project plan assessment and, if applicable, an ethics approval process.

Invitation to submit a full project plan does not guarantee a successful funding application. World Rugby reserves the right to fund a study in its entirety or only part thereof. The closing date for submission of initial concept documents is 17 April.

World Rugby Head of Technical Services Mark Harrington said: “Our number-one priority is player welfare and every decision that we make in this critical area is evidence-based, backed up with research and expert advice.

“We are looking to universities and medical bodies to come forward with proposals of potential research projects in these priority areas. These bodies will play a large role in driving forward the player welfare agenda and ultimately informing areas of enhancement.”

Complementing its injury surveillance studies, World Rugby is currently working to deliver a central research database that will collate global studies and outline reporting standards to ensure consistency across projects to enable the game to consider and act on like-for-like research.

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