A world-first study to research head knocks in junior rugby, particularly that first year of contact, is underway in Christchurch.
Professor Nick Draper and his team have spent the past two years collecting data from under-16 and under-17 sides and are now working alongside the Lincoln RFC under-eight team.
"We initially looked at headgear, and through those conversations with the engineering team at UC, we realised that actually we needed to know what's going on on the field first," he said.
Each player receives an MRI and neurocognitive test at the beginning of the season and another when the competition ends.
They're then closely monitored through smart mouthguards and video analysis at every training and game.
"It means we're able to track back and look at the video and see the events that lead to that incident, that collision and then understand how they occured.
"That'll help for coach education in the future, but we can also look at those MRI traces," he said.
Should a player take a heavy knock in-season, they'll have another MRI within five to seven days to piece together the puzzle.
It's important but expensive work made possible this season by Cure Kids funding more than $100,000.
Canterbury University academics are investigating collisions in rugby players aged 16 and under and their potential effect on brain structure and function. (Source: 1News)
"It's so worth it in the long-run when you look at the prevention of things like hospitalisations, long-term implications for young children's health into the future, and we've seen high-profile cases of older players with head injuries," CEO Frances Soutter said.
"It's piece of mind for parents, too."
"You want the best for your child. You don't want to see them injured at an early age," said Steve Hira.
"It's a no-brainer for our family," said former Matutu coach Blair Baxter.
"I've been invested in rugby for a long time, and it's a chance to showcase the good side."
The results from previous teams have been encouraging.
In 2022, there was one concussion, and in 2023, there were four. All are well below the threshold for what triggers a Super Rugby HIA – with the mean G 50.33. To give perspective to that, 8 G is the equivalent of your head wobbling while bouncing on a trampoline.
But it also saw the use of headwear double between the two seasons.
While data relating to Lincoln will be available in the coming months, the full findings of this research won't be complete until at least the end of 2025 — only after Canterbury University works alongside a girls' team.
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