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ORAL ABSTRACTS - THURSDAY, 21 MAY 2015(4) Ryutsu Keizai University, Japan(5) Chiba University of Commerce, Japan(6) University of Otago, Japan(7) Japan Sport Council, Japan(8) Nippon Electric Company (NEC), JapanPurpose of this study was to clarify who plays the decisive role at the defensive dimensions inrugby union matches. The analyzing method was the network analysis which suggests the players’relationship structures in organized group games. In these days ball games have been developed inhighly complex mechanism and the network analysis would clarify the evidence of dynamicbalance mechanism like a defensive co-operation of team mates. Network analysis has beendeveloped in communication-network studies as a graph theory. The network has structure of boththe vertex (players’ positions) and the edge line (co-operation between team-mates in match). Itshows which position plays a central role of two (or more) men tackle turnover. Data were derivedfrom 10 matches of close and balanced scores of the international test matches in autumn 2014.Results showed some contributors which mapped centrally in the graph by rugby positions. Positivedefence system would be performed by team-mates’ cooperation of successive pressure, cover andcommunication The results would also present a strategic and tactical knowledge for planning in thegame, practice, and the communication situations concerning team and/or game centrality.S19.4Association between injuries and team success in elite rugby unionSean Williams(1), G Trewartha(1), SPT Kemp(2), JHM Brooks(2), CW Fuller(3), AE Taylor(2), MJCross(1), KA Stokes(1)(1) University of Bath, Bath, Department for Health , UK(2) Rugby Football Union, London, UK(3) World Rugby, Dublin, IrelandThe aim of this study was to determine the association between injury measures and team success inelite Rugby Union. A seven season (2006/7-2012/13) prospective cohort design was used to recordtime loss injuries incurred by 1462 professional Rugby Union players at 15 English Premiershipclubs. The linear relationships between team success measures (league points tally and EurorugbyClub Ranking [ECR]) and injury burden measures were modelled, both within (changes in teamvalues from season to season) and between (differences between team values averaged over allseasons) teams. The thresholds for smallest worthwhile change in league points tally and ECR were3 points and 2.64%, respectively (0.3 of typical variation). Effects were evaluated as the change anddifference in the team success measure associated with a two within- and between-team standarddeviation increase in injury burden measures. All injury measures had a clear substantial negativeassociation with team success (83-100% likelihood), with the exception of the effect for betweenteam differences in injury days per match on ECR, which had an unclear effect. A reduction ininjury burden of 42 days (90% CI: 30 70) per 1000 player hours (22% of mean injury burden) wasassociated with the smallest worthwhile change in league points tally (+3 league points). Thesefindings highlight the importance for professional Rugby Union stakeholders to understand the111