June 11th, 2019

Dr. Victor Lopez Jr, and Ms Batool Quteishat, BSc, MSc (2019) of the Rugby Research and Injury Prevention Group, affiliated with Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr Lopez is affiliated with SPRINZ/Auckland University of Technology, Research Associates, and members of the Rugby Codes Research Group will be presenting for the first-year as guest speakers guest speakers at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, in the beautiful city of London, England at the 2019 Women in Sport and Exercise Conference (WiSE). They presented on topics relevant to the growth of rugby in the Americas, which may have implications globally. They shared their research during Open Communications Session 1: The Gender Gap in Sports Injuries, highlighting “USA Women’s Rugby Sevens Non-Contact Injury Risk Factors”.

The overall mission of the conference is to push the boundaries in women’s sport and exercise, which are expanding rapidly. The conference brings together leading thinkers and practitioners from a range of disciplines to promote discussion and debate around the issues females face in sport at all levels. In addition, it allows for investigation of how the industry can innovate, challenge attitudes, and push boundaries that still exist for women in sport. Participants explored the latest research and real-world evidence to address female-specific issues and life stages that impact performance and health. It explored gender inequality in the sport and exercise area, and discussed the opportunities and issues surrounding female participation in physical activity.