Injuries of the spine sustained during rugby.

A comparison was made between the number of rugby injuries seen between 1956 and 1982 (67) and the number of rugby injuries seen between 1982 and 1987 (20). The standards, the positions, the mechanics of injury and the fitness of the players were analysed. It was concluded that the law changes had resulted in a dramatic fall in the number of players injured, that it was the less fit and less skilled players that were getting injured, and that the laws were adequate but were not being enforced.