Alarm has been expressed at the increasing number of injuries being seen in English Premiership rugby.

The Rugby Football Union carried out an audit into the issue and found that an average of two injuries per club, per game have been occurring.

With the overall total of these reaching 769 last season, the figure is 20 per cent up on the previous campaign.

Hamstring, knee and ligament injuries have risen sharply this season and Rugby Players Association chief executive Damian Hopley remarked: "Any spike in statistics raises alarm bells."

A working party has now been established to seek ways to reduce the number of players getting hurt during games.

Those suffering from hamstring problems may find that ultrasound treatment helps them to get back into action quickly.

Sportsmen who have strained this muscle recently include Nigeria and Everton footballer Joseph Yobo, who suffered the injury while on duty in the African Cup of Nations.