Incidence, prevalence and consequences of illness in academy rugby league players

Objectives: To assess the incidence, prevalence and consequences of illness in one professional academy rugby league club during an in-season period.
Design: Observational prospective cohort study.
Method: Seventeen male rugby league players (age 17.7 ± 0.7 years, stature 178.8 ± 5.1 cm, body mass 87.2 ± 9.6 kg) completed a weekly self-report illness questionnaire using an amended version of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) questionnaire on health problems.
Results: A total of 24 new illnesses were reported over the 25-week study period. 65% of players experienced at least one illness during the study. The incidence of illness in this cohort was 14.3 per 1000-player days, with the respiratory system being most commonly affected (n=15; 62.5%). The average weekly illness prevalence was 10.3%. Time-loss illness incidence was 1.4 per 1000-player days. Loss of body mass and sleep disruptions were the most commonly reported consequences of illness episodes. Mean body mass loss during a period of illness was 2.2 ± 0.6 kg.
Conclusions: Academy rugby league players are most commonly affected by respiratory illness with a total of nineteen training and competition days lost to illness. Associated consequences of illness, such as loss of body mass and sleep disruptions may present a challenge and negatively impact a rugby league player's development. Appropriate medical provisions should be provided for Academy rugby league players to support them during periods of illness to limit the impact of these consequences.