Epidemiology of injury and associated injury risk factors in South African provincial women's rugby players.

OBJECTIVE

To establish match injury rates, characteristics, severity, burden, and associated risk factors in South African provincial women's rugby players.

METHOD: A secondary data analysis of injury data collected prospectively during the 2023 Women's Premier Division competition in South Africa. Match injuries were analyzed, and a modified version of the rugby consensus injury definition was used. The injury incidence rate was calculated as injuries/1000 player match hours. Univariate analysis was used, and injury incidence risk was calculated where applicable. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The injury incidence rate for all injuries was 207.1/1000 player match hours (95% CIs 153.8 to 260.5), and for time-loss injuries 25.0/1000 player match hours (95% CIs 6.5 to 43.5). The mean severity was 22.3 days. The lower limb and muscle/tendon injuries were the most commonly injured anatomical regions and injury types. Contact injuries had a significantly higher injury incidence rate than non-contact injuries (p < 0.001). The injury incidence risk was significantly higher for forwards compared to backs (p = 0.019).

CONCLUSION

The overall match injury incidence rate was comparable to other studies on women's rugby. Contact injuries, lower limb, and muscle/tendon injuries are associated with a significantly higher injury incidence rate.