REDs in Rugby Survey

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Men's VP NYRC

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Sep 18, 2025, 7:25:38 PM9/18/25

to m...@newyorkrugby.com

Here's a medical survey a PhD is trying to get rugby players to fill out. If you like science and aren't eating enough, this survey is for you. I've investigated it a bit, it appears very real, in spite of how it sounds.

Chad Hansen

NYRC Men's Vice-President

www.newyorkrugby.nyc

805-433-4396

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: ULPG:Billingham.Tabitha <billingha...@ul.ie>
Date: Thu, Sep 4, 2025, 09:20
Subject: REDs in Rugby Survey
To: vp...@newyorkrugby.com <vp...@newyorkrugby.com>

Hello,

I hope this email finds you well.

My name is Tabby Billingham, and I am a PhD researcher at the University of Limerick, working with the Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRIS) research group. I am completing my PhD on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) in Rugby and am currently recruiting Rugby players, coaches, and medical support staff to complete a survey assessing the knowledge and reporting of REDs in Rugby.

I am reaching out to ask whether you might be able to assist with distributing our survey through your Rugby club.

The study consists of a 10-minute anonymous survey. The goal is to assess knowledge and awareness of REDs among Rugby players, coaches, and medical support staff, explore confidence in identifying, reporting, and managing REDs, and to identify barriers and facilitators to reporting and managing REDs. The findings of this study will be used to inform and educate Rugby players, coaches, and medical support staff on the topic of REDs. These cohorts will benefit from this research through future work to facilitate reporting and management of REDs, and improve knowledge and awareness of this issue, which can have detrimental impacts on athlete's health and performance.

We are looking to recruit male and female Rugby players, coaches, and medical support staff (including Rugby coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists, athletic trainers, physical therapists, sports doctors, nutritionists, dietitians, and psychologists). All participants must be aged 18 years or older. Coaches and medical support staff must work with a Rugby team including athletes aged 18 years or older. Participants can be based in any country and compete or work with a team at any level (amateur to professional).

I have attached the survey recruitment flyer, including QR codes. The surveys are also accessible through the following links:

Players - https://unioflimerick.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2atoR5yPjXrDyeO

Coaches & medical support staff - https://unioflimerick.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ZrBM8PZC6ykg62

Prior to completing the surveys, participants will be provided with an information sheet, research privacy notice, and consent form. Ethical approval has been granted by the Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee at the University of Limerick (ID: 2025_04_03_EHS).

Any help you could provide in circulating this through your club would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you so much.

Kind regards,

Tabitha

(she/her)

Tabitha Billingham, BS.

Doctoral Researcher, Sport Science

Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance | University of Limerick (ul.ie)

Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences

Office: PG-034, Limerick, Ireland V94 YDE9

T: +353 83 011 9417 E: billingha...@ul.ie R^G: Tabitha Billingham