For more than eight years the RFU’s Injured Players Foundation (IPF) has been investing in research which aims to prevent catastrophic rugby injuries and investigates psychological adaptation to injury to help shape the charity’s support of those who are catastrophically injured while playing rugby.

 

One recent IPF funded project run by Bath university aims to reduce risk of spinal cord injury in the tackle by using a computer simulation of how the neck reacts to the tackle in a game.  The charity’s Patron, the Duke of Sussex, visited this project and was very interested in the research.

 

The IPF now wants to expand its research programme and is keen to hear from interested researchers who can contribute to the Foundation’s vision of all IPF clients leading the life that they wish to lead and the rugby union game being played without catastrophic injuries occurring.

 

Current research priorities include projects which aim to:

•   help prevent or manage spinal cord and/or traumatic brain injury within rugby

•   have a direct positive impact on the independence of IPF clients

•   provide a proof of concept and/or evaluation of effectiveness of current IPF interventions

 

The IPF is particularly interested in hearing from researchers seeking partnership funding, and/or collaborative support.  

 

While there is some limited funding currently available for projects starting from July 2020, a fundraising plan is being developed to support larger and longer-term projects over the next five to ten years. 

 

Please submit any expressions of interest by completing the form at http://bit.ly/31K2bfS by the 14th December 2019.

 

Depending on the number and scope of submissions received, one or more research panels will assess them and make initial recommendations to the IPF Board by the end of February 2020.