Recognizing injuries of players in contact sports and how to safely handle the situation was a focus of a two-day medical course, called “ICIR - Immediate Care in Rugby”, held the Tanoa International Hotel today, 14 April 2023.
The course and training offered by the Tonga Rugby Union began on Thursday. It stressed the importance of having a skilled medic in a contact sport.
Injuries can’t be prevented in a physical-contact sport so a medic is trained to specialize in dealing with certain life-threatening injuries in the most professional and safest way for sports players.
“We try to improve the way players are looked after, for them to get rapid-early care while still in the field,” said Dr Daelyn Cullen.
By Tupou Vaipulu Jr.
Dr Daelyn is a Sports Physician with over 25 years-experience looking after injuries and sports people. She, conducted the course along with Dr Jone Nasome and Dr Peni Poloniati . Today, the medics had to demonstrate how they would handle different scenarios of an injured player as well as giving a diagnosis on the spot.
The most lethal and common injuries, especially in Rugby are cervical spine injuries, bad head injuries and femur fractures. These can be seen in many common contact sports, not just Rugby Union.
A board member and treasurer for the Rugby Union Board, ‘Aisea ‘Aholelei said that these courses are important for the welfare of the players.
“It’s important not only internationally but also locally, injuries don’t just happen in international games but it can also happen in community games,” he told Matangi Tonga.
Tonga Women’s Rugby
In other news, the Tonga Women’s Rugby team will be travelling to New Zealand to play against Samoa. The match will be a curtain raiser for Moana Pasifika which will be held on the 29 April 2023. This is the first ever Women’s XVs team consisting of only local Tongan girls.
