Funded by the Rugby Football Union the Community Rugby Injury Surveillance Project (CRISP) will be used to look at the most common types and causes of injuries suffered by Fleetwood players

This information will then be used by physio Lauren Haworth to plan more effective strategies to deal with prevention and rehabilitation.

Lauren said her focus for the forthcoming season is to reduce the number of squad injuries.

“The club has been involved in this project for sometime and this is the latest step. It's all about monitoring what sort of injuries occur and bringing in intervention to help reduce injury rates.

“Just prior to pre-season is an ideal time to introduce the new measures which we will use on matchdays and in training. We 'll then keep going through the season to help reduce those common injuries.”

Andy Galloway, representing the RFU, recently visited Melbourne Avenue and said CRISP is aimed at clubs like Fleetwood.

“The injury prevention and surveillance programme has been developed over the last 5 years to assist community clubs like Fleetwood. It's all about looking at common injuries in rugby and understanding why they happen. Once that understanding is in place then it is easier to find preventative measures.”

Fleetwood head coach Steve Woodburn supports the RFU initiative.

“These new ideas will help in our warm-ups both in training and on match-day. Injury prevention is important to us as we only have a small, tight squad. We run three teams and that can be a challenge at times.

“Obviously knocks and bangs are one thing but strains and muscle injuries can often be prevented with correct warm-up routines. Anything that can be done to assist our physio team and assist our lads is better for me.

“We'll also look to use what we learn through-out the club and with our junior teams."

PICTURE: Left Steve Woodburn, Andy Galloway, Lauren Howarth

ATTENTION ALL SENIOR PLAYERS*** From Lauren Haworth: For the upcoming season, as a club we are supporting the RFU Community Rugby Injury Surveillance Project, as we have for the last few seasons. We will be recording information relating to match day injuries. All players will be automatically included in the project unless they opt out. Please read the poster on the club Facebook page from the Project Organisers, and contact me via private FB inbox if; 1. You would like to be part of the text messaging service (please provide me with your mobile number in your message) 2. you would like to be excluded from the project 3. If you have any other appropriate information.