Dr. Kathryn Dane

Dr. Kathryn Dane is a Postdoctoral Associate with the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre (SIPRC) working under the supervision of Dr. Carolyn Emery. Kathryn brings experience as a Physiotherapist, Level Four Rugby coach, and International Rugby player (23 caps for Ireland, and 1 cap for the Barbarians). As an athlete, she is an advocate for optimising the participation and experiences of girls and women in sport. Kathryn completed her PhD at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in 2024 exploring the safety and optimal tackle outcomes in Women's Rugby Union.

Her primary research interests are focused on understanding and addressing the burden of tackle-related injuries in collision sport populations through qualitative, mixed-methods, and co-creation approaches.

1. Dane K, West SW, Quarrie KL, Yeomans C, McLeod S, Wilson F, Hendricks S, Connors W, van Dyk N, Ventresque A. Tackle safety in rugby: what guidance exists? A qualitative document analysis of publicly available guidelines amongst national and international rugby organisations. J Sci Med Sport. 2025;S1440-2440(25)00453-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2025.10.004. Online ahead of print.
2. Dane K, Simms C, Hendricks S, West SW, Griffin S, Nugent FJ, Farrell G, Mockler D, Wilson F. Physical and technical demands and preparatory strategies in female field collision sports: a scoping review. Int J Sport Med. 2022; 43(14): 1173-1182. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1839-6040
3. Dane K, Foley G, Hendricks S, Wilson F. "It's always the bare minimum" - A qualitative study of players' experiences of tackle coaching in Women's Rugby Union. J Sci Med Sport. 2023; 26(2): 149-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2023.01.002
4. Dane K, Foley G, Wilson F. ‘Body on the line’: experiences of tackle injury in women’s Rugby union– a grounded theory study. Br J Sports Med. 2023; 57: 1476-1483. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2022-106243
5. Dane K, West SW, Hendricks S, Stodter A, Yeomans C, van Dyk N, Griffin SA, Wilson, F. A global survey exploring tackle training knowledge, attitudes and practices of women’s Rugby union coaches. Int J Sport Sci Coach. 2024; 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541241243180
6. Dane K, West SW, Hendricks S, Simms C, van Dyk N, Connors W, Wilson F. Are we tackle ready? Cross-sectional video analysis of match tackle characteristics in elite women's Rugby Union. Eur J Sport Sci. 2024;24(7):999-1009. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12120
7. Dane K, Foley G, Cullen, P, Wilson F. “Women shouldn’t play rugby” – the gendered and embodied experiences of Women Players in Rugby union. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. 2024. 16(5), 487-502.  https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2024.2375395.
8. Dane K, West S, Simms C, Sharief H, van Dyk N, Connors W, Ventresque A, Wilson F. Are recommended tackle techniques associated with superior performance outcomes? A retrospective video analysis study of elite women’s rugby union. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2024 Nov 30:1-10. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/02640414.2024.2434799
9. Stodter A, Dane K. The state of play for contact training and coaching in women's rugby. Eur J Sport Sci. 2024 May 10.  https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12119
10. Griffin S, Sheriff RS, Dane K, Myall K, Simpson K, Lewis H, Yeomans C, Patricios J, Kemp S, Khan K, Palmer D. ‘Mental heAlth and well-being in rUgby pLayers’(MAUL) study: an online survey of diverse cohorts of rugby union players internationally. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 2024 Dec 7;10(4). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002164
11. Thornton JS, Caneiro JP, Hartvigsen J, Ardern CL, Vinther A, Wilkie K, Trease L, Ackerman KE, Dane K, McDonnell SJ, Mockler D. Treating low back pain in athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021 Jun 1;55(12):656-662. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102723
12. McHugh C, Hind K, Kelly A, Fearon U, Wasfy M, Floudas A, Barad Z, Dane K, Farrell G, Wilson F. Cardiovascular risk and systemic inflammation in male professional rugby: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 2023 Nov 1;9(4):e001636. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001636
13. Wilson F, Ardern CL, Hartvigsen J, Dane K, Trompeter K, Trease L, Vinther A, Gissane C, McDonnell SJ, Caneiro JP, Newlands C. Prevalence and risk factors for back pain in sports: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine. 2021; 55 (11): 601-607. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102537
14. Paul L, Davidow D, Stodter A, Till K, Dane K, Jones B, Hendricks S. More than rugby: A scoping review of coaches in rugby. Int J Sport Sci Coach. 2023; 18(6), 2277-2291. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541231185558
15. Hendricks S, Emery C, Jones B, Brown JC, Dane K, West SW, Stokes KA, Gray R, Tucker R. ‘Tackling’ rugby safety through a collective approach. Bri j sport med. 2023; 57(10): 562-563. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-107020

Article

1. Women’s rugby is booming, but safety relies on borrowed assumptions from the men’s game. Dane K, Shill I, West S.