On Sunday evening, 28th January 2024, Bill appeared on the Sunday Night Club with Mark Saggers on TalkTV. The hour-long live programme was dedicated to examining the issues around player safety in rugby union. He was joined on the programme by ex-internationals, Tim Stimpson and Alix Popham, and Sunday Times leading sports journalist, David Walsh.
The Northampton Sports Medicine and Science group meet at the university of Northampton four times per year. Established by Bill in 2007, it is one of the longest running such meetings in the country. The meeting is open to all and is free. For professionals requiring CPD, the meetings are accredited by the national Faculty of Sports
Bill’s latest book will be released on 5th February 2024. Three years after the publication of his acclaimed debut book, Knife in the Fast Lane, Bill has turned his attention to the effect that the pandemic has had on sport (and vice versa). In co-operation with co-author, Mark Saggers, the highly experienced radio and TV sports journalist, Bill examines the
A very happy new year to all our patients, colleagues, and friends. 2024 is already looking busy for Bill and his team. In early February, Bill’s next book, A Plague on all our Sports, will be published. Later that month, Bill will be meeting up with colleagues from the university of Cape Town. Bill has been co-partnering research with the South African National
Welcome to the website of Professor Bill Ribbans, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon and Professor of Sports Medicine.
The site provides information about Bill’s background, clinical practice, and educational and research interests.
Bill’s training is in the assessment and treatment of bone, joint and soft-tissue problems. He has undergone extensive training in medicine and surgery in general and Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery in particular. He has treated world champions from eight different sports and Olympians with 28 medals between them.
His work is divided between commitments to his practice at The County Clinic, Northampton, and academic commitments, particularly at the University of Northampton.
He works closely with a network of colleagues in sports medicine, orthopaedics, rheumatology, surgery, radiology, anaesthesia, physiotherapy, and podiatry locally, nationally, and internationally, to try and provide for each patient optimal assessment, advice, and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
Bill was appointed as an Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon in 1991 to the Royal Free Hospital in London. In 1996, he returned to his hometown to commence work at Northampton General Hospital.
In 2012, Bill entered into full-time Private Practice having opened The County Clinic with his colleague, David Stock, in 2011.
In 2005, he was appointed Visiting Professor in Surgical Sciences to the University of Northampton and to a full personal Chair in Sports Medicine in 2010. Bill was Medical Director of the Chris Moody Rehabilitation Centre at Moulton College from its inception in 2012 until 2020.
Bill is also involved with a number of local and national sporting organisations. He has acted as Chief Medical Officer to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club since 2012. In the past, he has been Honorary Orthopaedic Surgeon to the English National Ballet, Northampton Saints and Northampton Town FC. He has worked closely with England Rugby and British Athletics.
In 2021, Bill decided to stop undertaking surgery. However, he has continued with his out-patient clinics for orthopaedic and sports medicine problems. His clinics remain busy with many referrals for second opinions (from patients and colleagues) and with many patients travelling from all over the country.
Bill has been involved in medicolegal work since 1985. He provides assessments and advice for personal injury and medical negligence claims. He has given evidence in court in both Britain and Ireland.
Bill has published over 100 scientific articles, books, book chapters and theses. He has lectured in all five continents of the world. He is the author of Knife in the Fast Lane published in 2020 and A Plague on all our Sports in 2024. He undertakes a lot of media work, including television, radio, podcasts, and newspapers relating to matters of interest in the sporting sphere – especially around athlete welfare and health provision.
