Ex-rugby international Kathryn Dane: ‘I got exposed to concussions from a pretty young age’

Kathryn Dane, a former Ireland rugby international, offers a candid perspective on the pervasive issue of concussions in sports, particularly from her own experiences starting at the age of eight. Her journey from a young player in Enniskillen to an international athlete and now a post-doctoral researcher in sport injury prevention underscores the long-standing challenges in recognizing and managing head impacts.

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I got exposed to head impacts and concussions from a pretty young age because of the volunteer-led nature of community rugby.

Dane's narrative highlights a critical gap in community sports: the insufficient access to healthcare professionals. She points out that many adolescent concussions went undiagnosed, with her first official diagnosis occurring at 18. This lack of timely medical attention, especially prevalent in volunteer-led grassroots rugby, poses a significant risk, particularly for female athletes who may face additional barriers.

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None of those concussions in my adolescence were diagnosed. I think my first diagnosed concussion was when I was 18.

Beyond the immediate physical impact, Dane's work now focuses on the broader socio-cultural factors influencing injury management. She argues that historical research has often overemphasized biological aspects of brain injuries, neglecting the crucial role of gender imbalances and systemic issues that affect an athlete's ability to receive proper care. The disparity between boys' and girls' teams in terms of resources and coaching expertise further exacerbates these problems.

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One of the big barriers, she suggests, to concussion recognition, diagnosis and management in community rugby, especially for girls and women, is lack of access to healthcare professionals.

Her experience with a brain hemorrhage in 2022, unrelated to rugby but requiring swift medical intervention, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of readily available medical expertise. Having returned to play after this incident and her ACL injury, Dane's continued involvement in rugby, even with the Barbarians, speaks to her resilience. Now based in Canada, her research at the University of Calgary aims to shed light on these underexplored areas, advocating for a more holistic approach to concussion prevention and management that considers the unique challenges faced by athletes, especially women.

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Whereas, she adds, “gender imbalances and the factors that impact an athlete’s access to the right help and the proper recognition and management of concussion, to prevent recurrent concussions”, remain underexplored.