518 FO57 – Epidemiology of injuries in women’s rugby union: a multi-centre home nations approach between Scotland, England and Wales

Background Injury rates and patterns in rugby union (rugby) vary between male and female players at international level but limited data exists in the female community level game. Systematic injury surveillance is a prerequisite to effective injury prevention, but current rugby injury prevention initiatives follow a one size fits all approach based on injury surveillance studies in men. Objective To determine the incidence, severity and nature of match and training injuries in women's rugby across Scotland, England and Wales. Design One-season, prospective observational study, recording time-loss injury following the Community Rugby Consensus for injury surveillance. Setting National level adult women's competitive leagues. Participants Players were aged >18yrs registered and playing for a women's league team. 287 players (153 forwards; 134 backs) from 14 teams participated in the study during the 2022/23 season. Assessment of Risk Factors Match and training exposure Main Outcome Measures Injury incidence, severity, nature and causes. Results Combined tri-nations match injury incidence was 28.5 injuries (95%CI: 23.3–33.7)/1000 player match hours (median severity 15 days) and training injury incidence 0.96 (0.47–1.45)/1000 player training hours (25d). The head (30% of injuries), ankle (16%), shoulder (10%) and knee (7%) were most frequently injured during matches, and head and ankle during training. Common diagnoses were concussion 6.2 injuries (3.8–8.6)/1000 match hours (23%; 23d), followed by ankle (12%; 13d) and knee (7%, 76d) ligament injuries. Two-thirds of match injuries occurred in the tackle (being tackled 42%, 26.5d; tackling 24%, 32.7d), and 76% of match concussions occurred in tackles. Injury patterns were similar for forwards and backs. Conclusion Injury rates were highest during matches. Concussion was the most frequent match injury diagnosis with three-quarters occurring in the tackle. Findings were similar by player position, and across sites. Female-specific injury prevention initiatives should be used to reduce injury and concussion risk in woman's rugby.