Legal and illegal ruck cleanouts in South African non-professional youth rugby

The ruck area is responsible for the second-highest number of rugby union injuries, therefore it necessary to investigate and understand better improved player safety. study aimed compare incidents legal illegal cleanouts in non-professional youth rugby. Using Nacpsort Scout Plus software, 118 South African Rugby Union under 18 Youth Week tournament matches were coded between 2015 2019. In total, 35,545 coded, which 32,641 (91.8%) 2904 (8.2%) illegal. Of cleanouts, 2676 (92.2%) deemed ‘not dangerous’ 228 (7.8%) considered ‘dangerous’. ‘dangerous’ represented 0.6% total cleanouts. most common supporting own body weight’ mostly (2498; 99.4%, p = 0.01); all ‘neck rolls’ (147; 100.0%, 0.02). findings suggest behaviour can still be improved, with regular participation safe effective technique training drills. risk injury during further influenced positively by coaches, through coaching on techniques.