The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) alongside Sport Wales, Football Association Wales (FAW) and other Welsh sporting bodies is supporting the first ever UK-wide concussion guidance for grassroots sport which is published today.
While community rugby has had a protocol for a number of years to recognise and remove those with a suspected concussion, now all grassroots sports in Wales and across the UK will follow one set of guidelines to ensure consistency for players, coaches, parents, schools, National Governing Bodies and sports administrators to identify, manage and prevent the issue.
The guidance, developed by an expert panel of UK and international clinicians and academics in neurology and sports medicine, builds on the existing protocols in place for rugby union in Wales and is targeted at people of all ages playing in the community game.
DON’T FORGET THE KEY PRINCIPLES
While the core policy remains to:
1. RECOGNISE the signs of concussion and
2. REMOVE anyone suspected of being concussed immediately
there are some differences to the return to play guidelines that will now apply to grassroots rugby at all levels and all ages in Wales with immediate effect.
WHAT’S NEW?
All players, parents, coaches, teachers and administrators are asked to watch the above video or read the new guidance and familiarise themselves with the changes including:
• A recommendation to call NHS 111 within 24 hours of a potential concussion
• An earliest return to play of 21 days for any grassroots player – adult or child and
• A new ‘If in doubt, sit them out’ strapline
WRU Community Rugby Director Geraint John said: “We’re firmly supporting the UK-wide concussion guidance for grassroots sport. Having all sports following the same advice and step-by-step plan will be hugely beneficial to all involved.
“These new guidelines build on the recognise and remove policy that community rugby has operated for a number of years. However, there are a few important changes that everyone in the grassroots game should be aware of so please make sure you familiarise yourselves with them.
“It’s also a timely reminder to refresh your awareness of the key signs and symptoms of concussion to recognise.”
Wales senior men’s international Louis Rees-Zammit added:
“I’m really pleased to support the launch of the UK concussion guidance for grassroots sport.
“It’s really important for everyone involved at grassroots level, whatever your role, to be aware of these guidelines, know the signs and take the right action to help protect players against concussion. Remember: If in doubt, sit them out.”
Development of the guidelines has been led by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, Professor James Calder, chair of the Government’s expert drafting group, and Laurence Geller, the Government’s Adviser on Concussion in Sport. The expert drafting group drew upon existing field research, with the aim of producing a consistent and preventative approach across all sports in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
KEY LINKS / INFORMATION
- Download the updated WRU concussion guidance document for community rugby
- Watch the updated WRU concussion guidance video for community rugby
- All additional WRU concussion documents, tools and posters with the updated guidelines will be available ahead of the 2023/24 season.
- Read more information on the development of the UK-wide guidance
