The innovation, used in the Guinness Men's Six Nations and Super Rugby, has recently been adopted by the United Rugby Championship and the Gallagher Premiership, and is transforming how head impacts are monitored during matches, providing invaluable data on head acceleration events, that can play a vital role in supporting the welfare of rugby players.
Over 150,000 head acceleration events (HAEs) have been recorded across men’s and women’s rugby. According to World Rugby's Chief Medical Officer, Éanna Falvey, the IMG data is now one of the most comprehensive resources in sports science. The technology is designed to detect significant head impacts and transmit alerts to the Match Day Doctor (MDD), who then decides whether a player should be removed for further assessment.
Data-driven insights and a balanced approach
The player data from competitions including the Guinness Men's Six Nations and Super Rugby has proved invaluable, and helped drive its adoption in other rugby competitions and leagues . Over the first half of 2024, 94,000 HAEs were recorded in men’s competitions, with an additional 11,000 from women’s matches. Despite the high volume of HAEs, only 66 iMG alerts were triggered across 99 matches. The ratio of iMG alerts to head impacts—roughly 1 in every 1,421 HAEs—suggests that the system is accurately identifying serious impacts without causing unnecessary game interruptions.
Setting the correct thresholds for player removal was a delicate process, says Dr Falvey: "Had they been too low, players would have been removed more frequently, with the potential for false removals causing frustration, ultimately leading players and coaches to reject the intervention. Setting them too high would mean too few players with significant head accelerations are placed into our medical screening process. The early indications are that we are close to achieving the necessary balance."
Looking ahead: Player load management
In addition to head impact monitoring, World Rugby is also focusing on player load management - another important topic in player welfare. A dedicated expert group has been working on better tools to track not just minutes played but also the intensity of a player’s physical involvement in matches. The goal is to link player load with injury risk and provide unions with data-driven recommendations on player welfare.
"Do we simply count match appearances or minutes, or can we introduce greater detail that tracks a player’s contact load and match involvements?" says Dr Falvey of the various questions the group is seeking to answer. "Can we identify relationships between these load elements and injury risk? Are Test-level players exposed to significantly more load either side of and during international windows?"
The development of a comprehensive player load database, combining data from multiple sources, is the next major project. This database will allow comparisons between different tournaments and players, helping to improve player welfare across the global game.
World Rugby’s advancements with iMG technology and player load management reflect their commitment to evidence-based solutions in safeguarding players, ensuring that rugby remains both an exciting and safe sport for all levels.
For more information on HIA protocols: https://www.world.rugby/the-game/player-welfare/medical/concussion/hia-protocol
For more information on iMG adoption and use within the game: https://www.world.rugby/the-game/facilities-equipment/equipment/imgs-specs
