Match and training injury risk in semi-professional rugby union: A four-year study

Objectives: Describe medical-attention and time-loss injuries during matches and training in a Welsh Premiership Rugby Union team. Design: Prospective cohort observational study.Methods: Injury incidence, severity, burden, location, type, and cause were determined in sixty-nine players from one semi-professional Rugby Union team.Results: Medical-attention and time-loss injury incidence was greater for matches (incidence, 95% confidence interval = 122.8, 108.9-138.4 and 99.8, 87.3-114.0) than training (incidence, 95% confidence interval = 2.2, 1.8-2.6 and 1.7, 1.4-2.1) per 1000 player-hours. Injury severity was similar for matches (time-loss +/- standard deviation = 24.9 +/- 30.8 days) and training (time-loss +/- SD = 22.4 +/- 29.1 days), with injury burden greater for matches (burden, 95% confidence interval = 3148.8, 3019.8-6479.2) than training (burden, 95% confidence interval = 49.7, 36.7-129.6). Lower-limb time-loss injuries were most common during matches (incidence, 95% confidence interval = 46.0, 37.9-55.9) and training (incidence, 95% confidence interval = 1.3, 1.0-1.7) per 1000 player-hours, whilst upper-limb injuries were most severe in matches (time-loss, 95% confidence interval = 38.8, 28.3-44.4 days) and training (time-loss, 95% confidence interval = 45.9, 17.5-52.7 days). The prevalent cause of contact-injury was tackling (31%) with running (11%) the common cause of non-contact injury. Conclusions: Time-loss match-injury incidence, severity, and burden were similar to data reported in the professional tier, with similar patterns of injuries for location, type, and inciting event. These figures are greater than previously reported for semi-professional Rugby Union, warranting further investigation at this level of play.(c) 2022 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigated medical-attention and time-loss injuries in a Welsh Premiership Rugby Union team. The findings showed that injury incidence and burden were higher during matches compared to training. Lower-limb injuries were most common, while upper-limb injuries were most severe. Tackling was the main cause of contact injuries, while running was the common cause of non-contact injuries.