Time to level the playing field between men and women - Given similar injury incidence: A two-season analysis of match injuries in elite men and women's (Super League) rugby league.

OBJECTIVES

To compare match injury incidence, severity and burden in men's and women's elite rugby league.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort epidemiological study.

METHODS

Time loss match injury data were collected from all men's (11,301 exposure hours) and women's (5,244 exposure hours) Super League clubs.

RESULTS

Injury incidence and burden were not different between men and women (mean [95 % CI]; 54 [45 to 65] vs. 60 [49 to 74] per 1000 match-hours; p = 0.39, and 2332 [1844 to 2951] vs. 1951 [1560 to 2440] days lost per 1000 match-hours; p = 0.26). However, injury severity was greater for men than women (42 [35-50] vs. 35 [29 to 42]; p = 0.01). Lower limbs accounted for 54 % and 52 % of injuries for men and women, with the head/face the most frequently injured location due to concussion (12 [10 to 15] and 10 [8 to 14] per 1000 match-hours for men and women). Injuries to the knee had the greatest burden for men and women (708 [268-1868] and 863 [320-2328] days lost per 1000 match-hours). Being tackled was the most common injury mechanism for men and women (28 % and 38 %) with greater burden (p < 0.01) than other injury mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

Male and female rugby league players have similar injury incidence and burden; however, injury severity was higher in men. Head/face injuries have the highest injury incidence and knee injuries have the highest burden. These injuries should be the focus for prevention initiatives at a league (via laws), player, and coach level, with equal and specific focus for both men's and women's rugby league players.