Rugby union, alongside other collision and contact sports, faces ever mounting pressure from increased recognition of concussive injuries and the risks they present to athletes, both in the short-term and long-term. Here, the media is a central component of increasing pressure for cultural change. This research analysed data from 524 self-selected survey respondents to examine rugby union fans’ and stakeholders’ perceptions of media portrayal of concussion and how it might influence their own perceptions. We found evidence of a complex and heterogenous relationship between perceptions of masculinity, views and attitudes toward mass media, and degree of involvement in rugby union. Specifically, partisans of the sport generally saw mass media as hostile, with coverage biased against rugby, allowing them to manufacture doubt regarding risk information, as well as maintaining involvement in the sport. We conclude that critical commentaries from the media have the ability to challenge masculinities around concussion.

橄榄球联盟以及其他碰撞和接触运动都面临着越来越大的压力，因为人们越来越认识到震荡性损伤及其给运动员带来的短期和长期风险。在这里，媒体是文化变革压力越来越大的核心组成部分。本研究分析了 524 名自选调查受访者的数据，以检查橄榄球联盟球迷和利益相关者对媒体对脑震荡的看法以及它可能如何影响他们自己的看法。我们发现了男子气概的看法、对大众媒体的看法和态度以及参与橄榄球联盟的程度之间存在复杂和异质关系的证据。具体来说，这项运动的支持者普遍认为大众媒体充满敌意，报道偏向橄榄球，允许他们制造对风险信息的怀疑，以及继续参与这项运动。我们得出的结论是，媒体的批判性评论有能力挑战脑震荡周围的男子气概。