Epidemiology of Injuries in Women's Rugby Sevens: A Systematic Review.

Background

Women's rugby sevens is rapidly expanding, yet injury patterns remain poorly understood, limiting prevention strategies. This systematic review aimed to describe injury incidence, severity, burden, and risk factors across competitive levels.

Methods

Original studies on senior or U19 women's rugby sevens reporting ≥ 2 epidemiological variables were included; studies on men, mixed samples without disaggregation, 15-a-side rugby, other sports, or players below U19 were excluded. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Scielo (last searched September 2024), supplemented by gray literature and hand searching. Risk of bias was assessed with ROBINS-I, and study quality was assessed with STROBE. Results were tabulated and synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity.

Results

Fifteen studies were included. Injury incidence ranged from 40.5 to 153.6 per 1000 match h at the elite level and 26.5-46.3 at the community level. Severity was higher in elite players (45.6-124 days) than in community players (29.6-58.4 days). Lower-limb joint/ligament injuries predominated, contact (especially tackling) was the main mechanism, and injuries often occurred in the second half.

Conclusions

Evidence was limited by small samples, inconsistent reporting, and a moderate risk of bias. Injuries are frequent and severe, especially in elite players, highlighting the need for targeted prevention and improved surveillance.