Objective
To describe medical-attention and time-loss injuries during matches and training in a Welsh Premiership Rugby Union team over four seasons.

Study design
Prospective cohort observational study.

Methods
Sixty-nine players from one semi-professional Rugby Union team were observed. Injury incidence, severity, and burden were calculated. Location, type, and cause of injury were also determined.

Results
Medical-attention and time-loss injury incidence were greater for matches (incidence, 95% CI = 122.8, 108.9–138.4 and 99.8, 87.3–114.0) than training (incidence, 95% CI = 2.2, 1.8–2.6 and 1.7, 1.4–2.1) per 1000 player-hours. Whereas injury severity was similar for matches (time-loss ± SD = 24.9 ± 30.8 days) and training (time-loss ± SD = 22.4 ± 29.1 days), with injury burden greater for match-injuries (burden, 95% CI = 3148.8, 3019.8–6479.2) than training-injuries (burden, 95% CI = 49.7, 36.7–129.6). Lower-limb time-loss injuries were the most common during matches (incidence, 95% CI = 46.0, 37.9–55.9) and training (incidence, 95% CI = 1.3, 1.0–1.7) per 1000 player-hours, whilst upper-limb injuries were the most severe from matches (time-loss, 95% CI = 38.8, 28.3–44.4 days) and training (time-loss, 95% CI = 45.9, 17.5–52.7 days). The most prevalent cause of contact-injury was tackling (31%) with running (11%) the common cause of non-contact injury.

Conclusion
Time-loss match-injury incidence, severity, and burden were similar to those reported in the professional tier, with similar patterns for medical-attention and time-loss injuries observed for injury location, type, and inciting event. These figures are greater than previously reported for semi-professional Rugby Union, warranting further investigation at this level of play.