Presentation of the Chair’s statement

CHAIR’S REPORT

Firstly, thanks to the Board and Management of the Foundation for their great work this year. We started the year off the back of a correction in the financial markets at the end of 2018 and budgeting was difficult. However, as is detailed in the Treasurer’s report the excellent improvement from our investment funds during 2019 and the other ongoing support we have received allowed us to loosen reins somewhat as the year progressed. The Treasurer has covered this is some detail.

It was pleasing that three major projects for Injured players were able to be largely completed during 2019 as they had been delayed in earlier times. These have made a significant difference to the quality of life for those involved. It is also pleasing that in undertaking those projects we were also able to maintain the level of our general grants.

Whilst we discovered two more players injured in previous years that we had not been aware of, it is indeed a celebratory year when we have had no more injuries of a catastrophic nature. However, are continuing to see ‘near misses’ with 23 during 2019.

As I mentioned in my 2018 report it is clear that we need better reporting of injury and better analysis of data to ensure that players can play competitively in a combative game but also in an environment that is as safe as possible to avoid catastrophic injury. As stated in our last report the Foundation had agreed to fund a Research resource with NZR to assist in the research of injury data. We are now in the throes of getting this project underway after some delays around the scope of the project. Eventually it is planned that we will find appropriate supporters to assist in the ongoing funding of this endeavour.

We are very pleased to see the progress being made by NZ Rugby in developing an app to assist with the management of concussion. This app shows real potential in enabling bench mark testing to be put in place relatively easily and injury logging via the app with tracking of medical follow up and symptoms management.

The app has a return to play protocol which will hopefully shorten the time for return to play under the Blue Card system but with scientific support to ensure that the player injury risk is well managed. It should also provide excellent support to clubs, schools and PUs in meeting their obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act. Currently the app is being tested in North Harbour, Hawkes Bay and Otago and we are watching with real interest. The biggest benefit though is that the system addresses issues if symptoms don’t show fast improvement. Referrals in these instances can then be quickly made to specialist clinical serves to ensure that best quality treatment and the fastest possible recovery.

I personally consider that this project may be a positive legacy tool not just for rugby but for other sports managing incidents of concussion. In injury prevention and management areas, Rugby is often in the cross-hairs for the risk of head trauma and catastrophic injury. In fact, Rugby led by NZR are well in front of the pack already in managing injury in sport and are leading the way in terms of injury minimisation and management as borne out in the statistics particularly around treatment costs.

Rugby needs to celebrate the fact that in a competitive / combative sport it is leading the way in this area.

Last year I mentioned that we have had concerns with the number of cardiac incidents that have occurred in and around the game over the years. As I said then we have been working on a project, subject to funding, to ensure there are externally accessible AEDs (defibrillators) available at every rugby club in New Zealand. This project has not proceeded as quickly as hoped but we are working hard to ensure that it can begin to be rolled out in 2020.

Our financial target remains one of becoming self-sustainable over time and my target of $10m in ‘2015 dollars’ in investment funds to be achieved over the next few years I believe remains an important and achievable goal. I am pleased we have grown our financial assets to over $5.6M in 2019. This has been a great result after what had been a very difficult year in 2018 for Investment management. In 2017 investment returns contributed a significant amount to cover our costs but in 2018 this was negligible. In 2019 it