The Characteristics of Training Injuries Among Chinese Competitive Rugby Sevens Players: A Retrospective Study

Background: Rugby sevens has developed rapidly in China, but research on its related injuries remains limited; thus, clarifying injury characteristics is crucial for targeted prevention. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the distribution and incidence of training-related rugby sevens injuries by age and gender. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted using a self-reported questionnaire, recruiting 414 competitive rugby sevens players (aged 14-24 years) who participated in competitions at the city level or higher. Injuries were defined as rugby-related physical discomfort with training time loss, or medical care regardless of time loss. Injury rates were calculated via the Poisson distribution as standardized incidence per 1000 training hours. Results: Among 414 participants, 141 reported 283 injuries, with an overall rate of 0.80/1000 h (95% CI: 0.71-0.90), and the ankle (20.1%) and knee (18.7%) were the most common sites. The participants > 18 years had a higher injury rate (1.21/1000 h, 95% CI: 1.03-1.38) than those ≤18 years (0.52/1000 h, 95% CI: 0.42-0.62). Females (1.00/1000 h, 95% CI: 0.82-1.19) had a significantly higher rate than males (0.70/1000 h, 95% CI: 0.60-0.81), with females > 18 years having the highest rate (1.41/1000 h, 95% CI: 1.12-1.71). Conclusions: Lower-limb injuries (ankle, knee) are most common in 14-24-year-old elite players. Participants > 18 years and females have higher injury risks, providing epidemiological data for age- and gender-specific prevention.