SCOTTISH RUGBY UNION & RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE SPONSORED PHD STUDENTSHIPS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CARNEGIE SCHOOL OF SPORT, LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY

Funding will consist of UK full tuition fees for three years and the award of a living stipend at UK Research Council rates (£15,609 per annum pro-rata into 12 monthly payments). Funding will be subject to satisfactory progress.

A laptop will be provided and the opportunity to apply for funding to support the research project.

PHD: QUANTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF (CONTACT) LOAD IN RUGBY PLAYERS

Project leads: Dr Carlos Ramirez (rugby union) and Professor Ben Jones (rugby league)

Rugby can have both a positive and unintended negative influence on biopsychosocial factors (Malm et al., 2019; Quarrie et al., 2017). Researchers from the CARR centre, in collaboration with an international research team are undertaking a study to establish ‘Contributors to Negative Biopsychosocial Health or Performance Outcomes in Rugby Players (CoNBO): A Systematic Review and Delphi Study’ (McCormack et al., protocol available on request). This study will describe negative biopsychosocial factors, which can be managed and mitigated by practitioners and policy makers to optimize player welfare.

One area of interest from a player performance and welfare perspective, specific to rugby is ‘contact load’ (West et al., 2020, Hendricks et al., 2016, Hendricks et al., 2019). Rugby players are required to engage in physical contact events, during both training and match play. Exposure to the tackle (and other contact events) during training, allows players to develop the specific technical skills to undertake these effectively and safely during a match (Hendricks et al, 2018). Conversely, given the tackle is the most injurious event in rugby, excessive exposure may expose players to an unnecessary injury risk (West et al., 2020). This may also specifically relate to sub-concussive and concussive events, given the risk of head collisions during a tackle (Tucker et al., 2017, Gardner et al., 2021).

The aim of these PhDs will be to support the CoNBO study, whilst systematically evaluating the load, and more specifically contact load exposure in rugby. One PhD student will focus on primarily women’s rugby union, based in Edinburgh in collaboration with Scottish Rugby (SRU project). One PhD student will focus on primarily rugby league, being based in Leeds in collaboration with the Rugby Football League (RFL project).

Alongside the research, the successful candidate working on the SRU project will be embedded into Scottish Rugby Union’s performance and athletic development departments primarily working with Scotland Women’s National Team, alongside Head of Physical Performance (Stuart Yule), Head of Athletic Development (Andy Boyd), and National Team Sports Scientist (Dr Carlos Ramirez; project lead). The successful candidate working on the RFL project will be embedded into the RFL England Performance Unit, supporting a range of teams and activities with Prof. Ben Jones. Each candidate will engage in approx. 10-15 hours of practical delivery per week.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with the project leads Dr Carlos Ramirez (c.ramirez@leedsbeckett.ac.uk) and Professor Ben Jones (b.jones@leedsbeckett.ac.uk)

1. Gardner, A. J., Iverson, G. L., Edwards, S., & Tucker, R. (2021). A Case-Control Study of Tackle-Based Head Injury Assessment (HIA) Risk Factors in the National Rugby League. Sports medicine - open, 7(1), 84. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-021-00377-9
2. Hendricks, S, Till, K, Oliver, J, Johnston, R, Attwood, M, Brown, J, Drake, D, MacLeod, S, Mellalieu, S, Treu, P, Jones, B. (2018) Technical Skill Training Framework and Skill Load Measurements for the Rugby Union Tackle, Strength and Conditioning Journal: 40 (5), 44-59 doi: 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000400
3. Hendricks, S., Till, K., Oliver, J. L., Johnston, R. D., Attwood, M. J., Brown, J. C., Drake, D., MacLeod, S., Mellalieu, S. D., & Jones, B. (2019). Rating of perceived challenge as a measure of internal load for technical skill performance. British journal of sports medicine, 53(10), 611–613.
4. Quarrie, K. L., Raftery, M., Blackie, J., Cook, C. J., Fuller, C. W., Gabbett, T. J., Gray, A. J., Gill, N., Hennessy, L., Kemp, S., Lambert, M., Nichol, R., Mellalieu, S. D., Piscione, J., Stadelmann, J., & Tucker, R. (2017). Managing player load in professional rugby union: a review of current knowledge and practices. British journal of sports medicine, 51(5), 421–427. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096191
5. Tucker, R., Raftery, M., Kemp, S., Brown, J., Fuller, G., Hester, B., Cross, M., & Quarrie, K. (2017). Risk factors for head injury events in professional rugby union: a video analysis of 464 head injury events to inform proposed injury prevention strategies. British journal of sports medicine, 51(15), 1152–1157. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097895
6. West, S. W., Williams, S., Kemp, S., Eager, R., Cross, M. J., & Stokes, K. A. (2020). Training Load, Injury Burden, and Team Success in Professional Rugby Union: Risk Versus Reward. Journal of athletic training, 55(9), 960–966. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0387.19

As part of your application, please provide a CV, cover letter and research proposal. The proposal should align to the above theme and include a brief literature review related to this project, with an outline of the studies that you would propose to the answer the aims of the PhD (maximum 5 pages single spaced).

We can only consider complete applications. The research degree application is complete once you have uploaded all of the following:

1. Your application form (include the project reference CARRSCO/RFL1)
2. Your research proposal, statement of purpose and CV on the Research proposal template
3. Copies of your bachelors and master certificates, including transcripts
4. Copy of your IELTS (or equivalent) certificate (if applicable) further information can be found on our Graduate School FAQs
5. Copy of your passport

Email the documentation above) to researchadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 

The deadline for applications is midnight on 11th July 2022

Candidates must be available for interview the RFL project interviews will be on 29th July with the SRU project interviews taking place the week beginning 8th August.

Applicants should indicate if they do not wish to be considered for either of the project (SRU or RFL), otherwise candidates will be considered for both.