title: More than 50% of players sustained a time-loss injury (>1 day of lost training or playing time) during the 2012 Super Rugby Union Tournament: a prospective cohort study of 17,340 player-hours.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Professional Rugby Union is a contact sport with a high risk of injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document the incidence and nature of time-loss injuries during the 2012 Super Rugby tournament.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  2012 Super Rugby tournament (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa).
  
  
  METHODS
  152 players from 5 South African teams.
  
  
  METHODS
  Team physicians collected daily injury data through a secure, web-based electronic platform. Data included size of the squad, type of day, main player position, training or match injury, hours of play (training and matches), time of the match injury, mechanism of injury, main anatomical location of the injury, specific anatomical structure of the injury, the type of injury, the severity of the injury (days lost).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion (%) of players sustaining a time-loss injury during the tournament was 55%, and 25% of all players sustained >1 injury. The overall incidence rate (IR/1000 player-hours) of injuries was 9.2. The IR for matches (83.3) was significantly higher than for training (2.1) and the IR was similar for forwards and backs. Muscle/tendon (50%) and joint/ligament (32.7%) injuries accounted for >80% of injuries. Most injuries occurred in the lower (48.1%) and upper limb (25.6%). 42% of all injuries were moderate (27.5%) or severe (14.8%), and tackling (26.3%) and being tackled (23.1%) were the most common mechanisms of injury. The IR of injuries was unrelated to playing at home compared with away (locations ≥6 h time difference).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  55% of all players were injured during the 4-month Super Rugby tournament (1.67 injuries/match). Most injuries occurred in the lower (knee, thigh) or upper limb (shoulder, clavicle). 42% of injuries were severe enough for players to not play for >1 week.
authors: Clinical Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Group, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Newlands, South Africa International Olympic Committee Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Martin P
authors: MP
authors: Schwellnus
authors: Clinical Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Group, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Newlands, South Africa.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Thomson
authors: Clinical Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Group, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Newlands, South Africa International Olympic Committee Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Derman
authors: Biostatistics Unit, Medical Research Council, Parow, South Africa Statistics and Population Studies Department, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Esme
authors: E
authors: Jordaan
authors: South African Rugby Union, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Clint
authors: C
authors: Readhead
authors: Golden Lions Rugby Union, Johannesburg, South Africa Section Sports Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: Rob
authors: R
authors: Collins
authors: Cheetahs Rugby Union, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Morris
authors: Section Sports Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa Blue Bulls Rugby Union, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: Org
authors: O
authors: Strauss
authors: Sharks Rugby Union, Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors: Ewoudt
authors: E
authors: Van der Linde
authors: Stormers Rugby Union, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Arthur
authors: A
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Contact sports; Epidemiology; Injury Prevention; Rugby; Sporting injuries