Reasons for regularly wearing protective headgear
| Higher order theme (% of responses) | Example responses |
| Prevention of minor injuries (55%) | Stop my ears rubbing in the scrum. Protects from cuts and bumps. Protection of ears in scrum and studs in rucks. To stop my ears from getting ripped off. |
| General confidence (13%) | A bit more of a confidence booster to throw myself at the opposition. I feel more confident going into contact wearing it. It builds my confidence in tackling and rucking/mauling. More confidence putting your head where it hurts. Helps to take away any worry of a boot coming into contact with your head. |
| Confidence after previous injury (12%) | I have previously suffered a couple of serious concussions as a result of impacts in the tackle or ruck areas, as a result I began wearing headgear and have not suffered again. I have been out of games due to a head injury before, so wearing headgear prevents those kinds of injuries. Began wearing after a series of concussions. Although I am aware that the headgear does not prevent concussions, it provided a feeling of protection. |
| Prevents concussions (10%) | Reduce the chance of a repeated concussion. Protect head and brain from injury and concussion. I have had concussion and some bad knocks when not wearing it and haven’t had concussion or any bad knocks when I have been wearing it. Softens impact to the head in contact, minimising risk of getting knocked out. |
| Keep hair out of the way (3%) | Stops my hair getting pulled in my face so I can see properly. It was to keep the hair out of my face without looking like a girl with a pony tail. |
| Habit/routine (3%) | Always wore one as a junior and just carried on. More of a mind-set thing now. I have always worn headgear; it would feel alien to play without it now. |
| Comfort (2%) | I don’t like my ears being exposed. Warm in the winter. |
| Parents (1%) | My parents make me wear it. It stops mum complaining. |