The severity of injuries in rugby union are at an all-time high, according to a report by the Rugby Football Union. The report also highlights the increase in incidences in concussion in the game.The authors examined last seasons domestic, European and international games and found that concussion remains the most common match injury for the fourth consecutive season. Concussion accounted for 17 per cent of all match injuries - up four per cent on the 2013-14 season, and the severity of match injuries was the highest reported since 2002.But the continued focus on improving concussion awareness among players, coaches, referees and medical staff would have contributed to the rise in reported cases.The average time that a player remained away from rugby after a match concussion was 12 days which remained stable compared to previous seasons.The tackle remains the most commonly associated with injury, accounting for 36 per cent of all match injuries.There have been concerns about the use of artificial grass, as used by Saracens at Allianz Park, but the report found that there were no clear differences in incidences or severity of injuries suffered on them. Northampton Saints George North was concussed more than once last season However, the risk of training injuries was lower than that seen in the previous two seasons.The overall likelihood of a player suffering a match or training injury remained stable last season and within the expected range of variation seen since the project began in 2002.And the figures for the severity of injuries suffered last season will have been skewed by the disproportionate effect of a small increase in a number of relatively uncommon injuries which caused more than 84 days absence for players.In particular there were double the number of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) injuries to the knee than in 2013-14. There was a reduction of recurrent match injuries, continuing the trend seen since 2007-08. This was the result of the continued delivery of effective rehabilitation of injuries by club medical and conditioning teams.Simon Kemp, RFU Chief Medical Officer said: While the injury rate has remained relatively stable since the study began in 2002, we cant ignore the recent trend for an increasing mean severity of injury.Further research is needed to establish the underlying reasons for this. In terms of concussion, we are continuing to work hard on education, game day management and return to play based on the best medical and scientific evidence we have available to us.Our awareness programme has very significantly changed players, coaches and referees understanding of the injury and we believe that the principles of recognise and remove, recover and return are being consistently delivered. Richard Bryan, the Rugby Director for the Rugby Players Association, added: With the increased number of reported concussions and concussion remaining the most common match injury, education and raising awareness are clearly having an effect.Nevertheless the game needs to continue with its work of exploring all avenues for concussion prevention measures and we are pleased that the report expressly references this.The full report can be read on the England rugby website.The issue will be investigated in a Sky Sports 1 programme, Concussion, the Impact on Sport, from 10pm on Monday. Also See: Hogg Six Nations top player Rugby on Sky Follow @SkySportsRugby Pundits Discount Jerseys Team . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. 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He may be cursing the looming Test season, but Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal received some good news on Saturday after star recruit Liam Gill was granted an early release by the Australian Rugby Union.The Queensland Reds and Wallabies flanker will be able to link with the French giants immediately while teammate Greg Holmes can also head north to join Exeter Chiefs.It means Boudjellal can use Gill from the outset of Toulons European season, unlike regular starters Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell who are both training with the Wallabies ahead of the Rugby Championship.It was not a decision the ARU took likely with contracted players usually prohibited from departing until the end of the year, or in the case of those with seven years Test service, after the third Bledisloe Cup Test which this year isnt until October 22.It is disappointing to be put in a position to make a decision when players have signed two contracts within the same term by their agents, ARU General Manager of High Performance Ben Whitaker said.Therefore we really have no other choice but to release the players, as they have been put in a difficult situation where they have been misleadd and misrepresented.ddddddddddddf a contract runs until 31 December and any agent gets a player to sign a contract which commences on 1 August, he is forcing his client to breach his standard player contract.Theres a responsibility that agents represent the best interest of their clients, however any breach of Player Agent Regulations is putting players at risks of fines and sanctions, which is of great concern for the game.This decision has not been made lightly, however in this instance weve put the best interest of the players first.The move comes after Toulon dug its heels in over Giteaus release for the Rugby Championship.The veteran playmaker was the last player to link up with Michael Cheikas squad, who open the tournament with a Bledisloe Cup showdown against the All Blacks in Sydney next week.World Rugby Regulation 9 should have freed Giteau up immediately, but Toulon did their best to delay the process after they were left in the lurch last year following the ARUs change in contract policy on foreign eligibility. 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