Partnerships and Project

Partnerships

Colchester Rugby Club

With this partnership, the Essex Blades will be boosted by weekly training session, further support and development plans, as offered by Colchester Rugby Club's expertise, and the club's coaches are given the opportunity to enhance their skills through hands-on experience with the professional programme at Essex.

PhysiGo

In close contact with World Rugby, PhysiGo's sensory technology demonstrates commitment in the improvement of athlete health through AI-enabled wearable equipment, which plays a prevalent role in contact sports, especially rugby.

Research Project

Paving the way for better and innovative approaches to player safety, a ground-breaking trial using cutting-edge technology with the help of embedded artificial intelligence to explore concussion in grassroots rugby. In collaboration with wearable tech firm PhysiGo and the Colchester Rugby Club, the impact of collisions will be studied more closely with GPS units to assess head injuries and recovery time.

Using the head devices to monitor and assess impacts and rotational forces, leading researcher Dr Ben Jones studies the first team and youth side across all 22 amateur games of their season to improve safety and safeguard the sport for future generations.

Equipment and impact:

• Functional near-infrared spectroscopy: Combined with cognition testing, forwards and backs' baseline brain activation are monitored off-pitch.
• GPS units with embedded artificial intelligence: Monitor head injuries through impact, recovery time and rotational forces experienced by players.

Read about Ben's research

Empowering athletes through science

At the School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, we foster collaboration through in-depth research, facilitate knowledge sharing, and expand placement and career opportunities for our students and graduates.

Our team of scientists and practitioners provide guidance through the crucial roles of physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and nutrition in enhancing performance and wellbeing. With research projects conducted by experts in the field, our approach emphasises proactive injury prevention strategies in ensuring athlete long-term health and performance.

With our various degrees, obtain skills and experience to work with athletes and support individuals with physical rehabilitation, mental well-being and a safe return to activity.