Pioneering study aims to find out how repeated blows to head in women’s rugby affects brain

May 24, 2026

Cardiff University researchers have launched a pioneering study to track how repeated head impacts in women’s rugby affect the brain, aiming to fill a major evidence gap because most previous research has focused on men. The study will follow a cohort of female players over time using objective head‑impact measurements and brain imaging to detect changes from both diagnosed concussions and repeated subconcussive blows, with the long‑term goal of informing women‑specific assessment and safety protocols in the sport.

Study purpose and methods: The researchers want to know whether the female brain’s different physical characteristics make it more vulnerable to injury and whether repeated smaller impacts (not just clinically diagnosed concussions) produce measurable, lasting changes in structure or function. To do this they will combine wearable sensors that record impact magnitude with pre‑season, post‑season and incident‑driven MRI and cognitive testing, tracking the same individuals across time to spot subtle changes.

Context and significance: Existing studies have linked repeated head trauma in male players to later cognitive decline and neurodegenerative changes, but women have been comparatively under‑studied despite evidence suggesting sex differences in susceptibility and outcomes; this project aims to produce the first women‑specific, longitudinal evidence needed to guide policy, training and protective measures in women’s contact sport. The team hopes the findings will support development of a women‑specific head‑impact assessment protocol and better concussion-management strategies for female rugby players. The Guardian