RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Longitudinal study of six seasons of match injuries in elite female rugby union JF British Journal of Sports Medicine JO Br J Sports Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine SP 212 OP 217 DO 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105831 VO 57 IS 4 A1 Lindsay Toyah Starling A1 Niki Gabb A1 Sean Williams A1 Simon Kemp A1 Keith A Stokes YR 2023 UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/4/212.abstract AB To establish match injury rates and patterns in elite female rugby union players in England.Method We conducted a six-season (2011/2012–2013/2014 and 2017/2018–2019/2020) prospective cohort study of time-loss match injuries in elite-level female players in the English Premiership competition. A 24-hour time-loss definition was used.Results Five-hundred and thirty-four time-loss injuries were recorded during 13 680 hours of match exposure. Injury incidence was 39 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CIs 36 to 42) with a mean severity of 48 days (95% CIs 42 to 54) and median severity of 20 days (IQR: 7–57). Concussion was the most common specific injury diagnosis (five concussions per 1000 hours, 95% CIs 4 to 6). The tackle event was associated with the greatest burden of injury (615 days absence per 1000 hours 95% CIs 340 to 1112), with ‘being tackled’ specifically causing the most injuries (28% of all injuries) and concussions (22% of all concussions).Conclusions This is the first multiple-season study of match injuries in elite women’s rugby union players. Match injury incidence was similar to that previously reported within international women’s rugby union. Injury prevention strategies centred on the tackle would focus on high-burden injuries, which are associated with substantial player time-loss and financial costs to teams as well as the high-priority area of concussions.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.