A major research collaboration between the University of New England (UNE) and New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is advancing understanding of ACL health and adaptation in youth female rugby league athletes, with findings expected to shape safer, evidence-based development pathways.
Led by UNE Associate Professor Robert Crowther and postdoctoral researcher, Dr Ayden McCarthy, the NSWRL-funded study will track young female players across a competitive season to examine how the ACL adapts to training and match demands.
Using advanced MRI technology, alongside physical performance testing and training-load monitoring, the project aims to generate evidence-based insights to support safer training practices and long-term athlete development.
“ACL injuries disproportionately affect female athletes, particularly during adolescence,” said A/Prof Crowther.
“By examining how the ligament adapts across an entire season using advanced MRI, we can move beyond injury statistics and start understanding biological adaptation, which is essential for designing safer and more effective development pathways.”
A central component of the project is the use of state-of-the-art MRI techniques conducted at the Sydney Imaging Core Research Facility at The University of Sydney.
Image: Study participants from the Carlingford Cougars Junior Rugby League Football Club during a training session.
These advanced scans allow researchers to detect subtle structural and micro-level changes in the ACL that cannot be identified through standard clinical or field-based assessments.
“By tracking athletes across a full competitive season, this project allows us to better understand how the ACL responds to the cumulative demands of training and competition," said Dr McCarthy.
“Integrating imaging with physical performance data gives us a clearer picture of ligament adaptation and what supports long-term knee health in young female athletes.”
NSWRL Chief Executive Officer David Trodden said the organisation’s investment reflects a strong focus on player welfare and the future of the female game.
“Investing in research that directly supports player welfare is a priority for New South Wales Rugby League,” he said.
“By funding this study, we are supporting high-quality, applied research that will help inform how young female athletes are trained and supported across our pathways, with benefits that extend well beyond rugby league.”
Find out more about the project in this video
