Neck Strength

Neck strength plays a critical role in protecting female rugby players from the high-impact forces common in the sport. Research shows that female athletes experience concussion rates up to twice as high as their male counterparts, partly due to differences in cervical muscle strength, neck girth, and neuromuscular control. Female rugby players typically present with smaller neck musculature and 40–60% lower cervical strength than males, which can limit their ability to stabilise the head during sudden impacts or unanticipated collisions (Ruppert and Lettimer, 2022) . Strengthening the neck not only improves head–neck stability but also helps reduce excessive head acceleration, a major contributor to concussion risk. As rugby continues to grow in participation among women, understanding and addressing the importance of neck strength becomes vital in enhancing player safety and performance. 

During head impacts, the cervical musculature contracts to increase neck stiffness, which can limit the head movement and absorb kinetic energy, which reduces the acceleration experienced by the brain. Increasing the stability and strength of the neck musculature is thought to have a positive effect on lowering concussion incidence (Petrie et al., 2024). Neck training can involve deep neck stabilisation and neck strengthening exercises, with different exercise levels depending on the player's level. Head reaction exercises can be utilised to improve neck strength while also improving muscle coordination and reaction time. Examples of deep neck stabilisation, neck strengthening exercises and head reaction exercises are outlined in World Rugby’s

World Rugby Contact Confident Resource