{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T05:55:50Z","timestamp":1775195750377,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,30]],"date-time":"2024-04-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1714435200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000269","name":"Economic and Social Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["Doctoral training scholarship"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Doctoral training scholarship"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000269","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Numerous concussion-management protocols have been developed in rugby, though little is known about player\u2019s personal experiences of concussion. Specifically, research typically refers to clinical recovery, with social and psychological sequelae post-concussion gaining little attention. This study aimed to explore the experiences of rugby players in relation to being concussed and recovering from concussion. UK-based rugby players (10 men, 9 women and 1 non-binary person) from school, university, club, military and semi-professional teams took part in semi-structured interviews (36 \u00b1 12 minutes). Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. Players considered pitch-side healthcare a necessity, though amateur players highlighted the difficulty in consistently accessing this resource. In the absence of medical staff, players were reliant on the goodwill of volunteers, but their response to concussion did not always align with current concussion guidance. Players highlighted that concussion recovery could be socially isolating and that current return-to-play programmes did little to restore lost confidence, resulting in retirement from the game in some instances. Participants expressed a desire for more in-person concussion education and for greater coverage of holistic methods to support their recovery. This study highlights a need for further investigation of the post-concussion social and psychological changes that players may experience during their recovery. Greater focus on information relating to concussion recovery and return-to-contact in education programmes would likely benefit player welfare.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0296646","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,30]],"date-time":"2024-04-30T17:36:34Z","timestamp":1714498594000},"page":"e0296646","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Concussion response and recovery in men and women\u2019s rugby union: A reflexive thematic analysis of player interviews"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0450-7039","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Freja J.","family":"Petrie","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kelly A.","family":"Mackintosh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chelsea","family":"Starbuck","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8422-5842","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Elisabeth M. P.","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0813-7477","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Melitta A.","family":"McNarry","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0296646.ref001","article-title":"Overview | About World Rugby.","author":"World Rugb","year":"2023","journal-title":"About World RugbyInternet]"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1123\/wspaj.17.2.8","article-title":"Why American Women Play Rugby.","volume":"17","author":"SK Fields","year":"2008","journal-title":"Women Sport Phys Act J."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref003","first-page":"13","article-title":"Applying the Bradford Hill Criteria for Causation to Repetitive Head Impacts and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.","author":"CJ Nowinski","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Neurol."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1021","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2017-097912","article-title":"Tackling concussion in professional rugby union: A case-control study of tackle-based risk factors and recommendations for primary prevention.","volume":"53","author":"MJ Cross","year":"2019","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"838","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2017-097699","article-title":"Consensus statement on concussion in sport\u2014the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016.","volume":"51","author":"P McCrory","year":"2017","journal-title":"Br J Sports Med."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref006","author":"C Barden","year":"2021","journal-title":"Youth Rugby Injury Surveillance and Prevention Project"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref007","author":"S Kemp","year":"2021","journal-title":"Community Rugby Injury Surveillance and Prevention Project"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref008","author":"S Kemp","year":"2022","journal-title":"Women\u2019s Rugby Injury Surveillance Project WRISP Report 2020\u201321"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref009","first-page":"2020","author":"S Kemp","year":"2022","journal-title":"Professional Rugby Injury Surveillance Project"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1701","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-021-01630-7","article-title":"NZ-RugbyHealth Study: Self-reported Injury Experience and Current Health of Former Rugby Union and Non-contact Sport Players.","volume":"52","author":"PA Hume","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sports Medicine."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"435","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ncl.2017.03.003","article-title":"Sideline Sports Concussion Assessment.","volume":"35","author":"K Podell","year":"2017","journal-title":"Neurol Clin."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1337","DOI":"10.1080\/02699052.2018.1482426","article-title":"Healthcare professional involvement and RTP compliance in high school athletes with concussion","volume":"32","author":"JK Haarbauer-Krupa","year":"2018","journal-title":"Brain Inj"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ptsp.2018.06.007","article-title":"Safety of pitch-side care provision in community contact sport within England.","volume":"33","author":"S Stuart","year":"2018","journal-title":"Physical Therapy in Sport"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1173","DOI":"10.1016\/j.promfg.2015.07.195","article-title":"Responsibilities in the Prevention of Concussion in Community Rugby Union.","volume":"3","author":"A Clacy","year":"2015","journal-title":"Procedia Manuf."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref015","article-title":"Post-concussion return-to-play: Perceptions of roles, responsibilities and guideline implementation among community club rugby stakeholders in South Africa.","author":"W Kraak","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Sports Sci Coach."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref016","author":"UK Government","year":"2023","journal-title":"UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sport Contents."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20032569","article-title":"Reasons for the Reporting Behavior of Japanese Collegiate Rugby Union Players Regarding Suspected Concussion Symptoms: A Propensity Analysis.","volume":"20","author":"K Suzuki","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref018","author":"World Rugby","year":"2023","journal-title":"Concussion Guidance | World Rugby."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref019","first-page":"1","article-title":"Prevalence of concussion and adherence to return-to-play guidelines amongst male secondary school rugby and hockey players","volume":"77","author":"SJ Taft","year":"2021","journal-title":"South African Journal of Physiotherapy"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1533","DOI":"10.1111\/hex.13138","article-title":"Loss and recovery after concussion: Adolescent patients give voice to their concussion experience.","volume":"23","author":"R Choudhury","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Expectations."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101824","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2020.101824","article-title":"The social dynamics involved in recovery and return to sport following a sport-related concussion: A study of three athlete-teammate-coach triads.","volume":"52","author":"JG Caron","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology.","volume":"3","author":"V Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2019.1628806","article-title":"Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis.","volume":"11","author":"V Braun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"328","DOI":"10.1080\/14780887.2020.1769238","article-title":"One size fits all? What counts as quality practice in (reflexive) thematic analysis?","volume":"18","author":"V Braun","year":"2020","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref025","first-page":"177","article-title":"Constructivism.","author":"P Lowenthal","year":"2008","journal-title":"Encyclopedia of the social and cultural foundations of education"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zanin AC, Kamrath JK, Ruston SW, Posteher KA, Corman SR. Labeling Avoidance in Healthcare Decision-Making: How Stakeholders Make Sense of Concussion Events through Sport Narratives. https:\/\/doi.org\/101080\/1041023620191598742. 2019;35: 935\u2013945. doi: 10.1080\/10410236.2019.1598742","DOI":"10.1080\/10410236.2019.1598742"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1123\/jcsp.2014-0037","article-title":"Motivations for Underreporting Suspected Concussion in College Athletics.","volume":"9","author":"SC Davies","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Clin Sport Psychol."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref028","first-page":"668","article-title":"On being \u201chead strong\u201d: The pain zone and concussion in non-elite rugby union.","volume":"53","author":"K Liston","year":"2018","journal-title":"journals.sagepub.com"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"236","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ptsp.2019.06.004","article-title":"Concussion reporting, knowledge and attitudes in Irish amateur gaelic games athletes.","volume":"43","author":"R Leahy","year":"2020","journal-title":"Physical Therapy in Sport"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Druckman JN, Trawalter S, Montes I. Unbiased? Race, gender, and sport effects in university medical staff\u2019s perceptions of injured student-athletes. https:\/\/doi.org\/101080\/1935739720181525135. 2018;13: 1\u201310. doi: 10.1080\/19357397.2018.1525135","DOI":"10.1080\/19357397.2018.1525135"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref031","first-page":"105","article-title":"Evaluation and Treatment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: The Role of Neuropsychology.","volume":"7","author":"C Prince","year":"2017","journal-title":"Brain Sciences 2017, Vol 7, Page 105."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref032","first-page":"2018","article-title":"\u201cBrave Men\u201d and \u201cEmotional Women\u201d: A Theory-Guided Literature Review on Gender Bias in Health Care and Gendered Norms towards Patients with Chronic Pain.","author":"A Samulowitz","year":"2018","journal-title":"Pain Res Manag"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref033","first-page":"3","article-title":"A hero or sissy? Exploring media framing of NFL quarterbacks injury decisions.","volume":"4","author":"J Sanderson","year":"2016","journal-title":"journals.sagepub.com."},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fischer P, Krueger JI, Greitemeyer T, Asal K, Aydin N, Vingilis E. Psychological effects of risk glorification in the media: Towards an integrative view. 2012;23: 224\u2013257. doi: 10.1080\/10463283.2012.690969","DOI":"10.1080\/10463283.2012.690969"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref035","first-page":"1","article-title":"The characteristics of patients who do not seek medical treatment for traumatic brain injury","volume":"21","author":"L Setnik","year":"2009"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"438","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jshs.2022.01.001","article-title":"Which psychosocial factors are associated with return to sport following concussion? A systematic review.","volume":"11","author":"J van Ierssel","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Sport Health Sci"},{"key":"pone.0296646.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-93813-0_7","article-title":"Psychological and Mental Health Sequelae of Concussion: Prevalence, Treatment Recommendations, Novel Biomarkers, and Diagnostic Challenges.","author":"AK Ceniti","year":"2022","journal-title":"Tackling the Concussion Epidemic."}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0296646","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,17]],"date-time":"2024-11-17T11:01:43Z","timestamp":1731841303000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0296646"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Esedullah","family":"Akaras","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,30]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,30]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0296646","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,30]]}}}