Australia’s sportsmen and women are breaking more bones thanks to the drought and subsequent water restrictions, according to sports insurance underwriter Sportscover.

MD Peter Nash said shoulder injuries have increased by 23% over the past 12 months and the number of sports-related claims have boomed. “The lack of rain and restrictions mean people are playing on harder surfaces, and the impact on their body is much greater than normal,” he said.

Sportscover’s claim statistics suggest the top five sporting injuries for 2002 were to the knees, shoulders, ankles, legs and teeth. Mr Nash says he expects high sports injury rates to continue through summer or until the country receives relief from the drought.