World Rugby’s focus on player welfare

"We have made good progress, but we will never be complacent and are always looking for ways to advance."

WORLD RUGBY AIMS TO CEMENT ITSELF AS ‘MOST PROGRESSIVE SPORT ON PLAYER WELFARE’

Following the launch of World Rugby’s campaign to increase players’ understanding of brain health, Alan Gilpin shares an insight into the organisations commitment to fostering a safer game and supporting current, former and future players away from the pitch.

How important is it to manage playing schedules?

It seems rather obvious to say it, but good welfare and injury-prevention is not all about the match day. It is important to take a holistic approach, understanding the importance of the total load – training, playing and travel – for players. For example, there is a dedicated player welfare working group embedded within the ongoing discussions regarding the global calendar, which will ensure that any model implemented has welfare at heart. At our men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups we have increased the minimum number of rest days, while in partnership with International Rugby Players we recently launched contact training load guidance that sets out the optimal level of contact that minimises injury risk, while optimising match preparation and therefore performance.

We are really encouraged by how unions and teams are embracing this philosophy, which should have long-term positive benefits for our top male and female players, but also deliver a best practice template for the community game.

We have recently seen Leinster and Ireland International James Ryan see an independent consultant as part of his return to play protocol. How have World Rugby’s return to play protocols ensured players are returning to the game as safely as possible?

Our six-stage graduated return to play protocols for the elite game revolve around an individualised approach to rehabilitation from a concussion based on a player’s risk profile and concussion history. This is important as it is all about the player and their recovery profile, not a set period of time.

We are taking a conservative approach to this important area regardless of whether a player is symptom free and has successfully progressed through the six stages of the GRTP under medical supervision. Now, any player who is expected to return within 10 days, any player who has been ➡

concussed within a threemonth period, any player who has sustained two or more concussions within 12 months and any player who has sustained five or more concussions in their career must undertake an independent concussion consultation. This is an additional layer of care for the player. The consultation will consider the player’s medical history.

But we will not stand still. We continue to investigate how the latest science, technology and research can enhance our HIA and GRTP protocols. We are currently undertaking a trial of the latest eye-tracking technology in Super Rugby to understand how it might support the HIA and GRTP, while instrumented mouthguard technology has developed at such a pace that it could be used in real time to detect significant head impacts and inform removal. This is possible owing to the accuracy and speed of the technology that has been developed by Prevent Biometrics, who are market leaders in this area. Like the RFU, we are also examining how Saliva biomarkers can assist in the detection of concussion. So, there is certainly a lot of good work going on in this space.

Have the organisation looked into the role that technology can play to measure collisions?

Earlier this year we announced a partnership with Prevent Biometrics, the University of Otago, Otago Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby to undertake the largest-ever study of head impacts in sport which will tell us what it looks like to play the game at every level from community to elite, adult to age grade, men and women. Using the latest instrumented mouthguard technology, this ground-breaking project involving 700 players matches data and time coded video footage from training and playing environments to give a really detailed understanding of the frequency and nature of head impacts in rugby. But more than a research project, it will enable us to identify ways to make the game safer, recognising that there are significant differences between the elite and community games. The study should be completed and published by the middle of next year.

What is World Rugby doing to make the game safer from grassroots to professional level?

In July, we launched a sixpoint plan to further cement rugby as the most progressive sport on player welfare. This is more than just a statement, it is at the heart of everything that we do as an organisation and reflects our commitment to our family – current, future and former players.

It sets out how we will advance former player care, how we will continue to be guided by evolving science, data and technology, how we will evolve the laws with injuryprevention at heart, how we

will take a dedicated approach to the women’s game, how we will drive prevention via education and how, through open engagement, we will listen to and act on the views of the rugby family as a whole.

Since the plan’s launch, we have announced welfaredriven law trials and community law variations, we have implemented independent concussion consultants, we have introduced contact training guidance aimed at protecting players and we have launched tackle technique education and brain health education. We have made good progress, but we will never be complacent and are always looking for ways to advance.

How will World Rugby be educating and supporting players to increase their understanding of brain health?

This is a really important area for rugby and society as a whole and our education is not simply aimed at former players. We care deeply about every member of our rugby family, and constantly strive to safeguard and support our players. We have consistently acted on evolving science and evidence to advance player welfare for all.

Good brain health is much wider than what happens on the field, and we have more control over it than you would think. It is about creating community, starting conversations and building an understanding of how we all can make lifestyle changes that can positively impact our long-term wellbeing. At the same time, we will not sit still in evolving our game to ensure its best protects those playing it.

By providing accessible video resources and highquality care and support through the establishment of brain health clinics around the world, we can better educate members of our rugby family – whether they’re newcomers, established club players, professionals nearing the end of their career or retirees – on what can be a complex and daunting topic. I hope that, like myself, players engage with our Brain Health Initiative to help them thrive and perform, both in rugby and everyday life outside. Long-term cognitive health is extremely complex, and dementia isn’t necessarily a consequence of one factor. It is important for those involved in the game to understand that by prioritising good brain health, it is possible to reduce the risk of developing dementia and other degenerative brain conditions. Rugby players, past and present, can make moves such as maintaining good health and fitness, and tackling stress, anxiety and depression to help reduce certain risk factors, while the sport continues to prioritise reducing the risk of head impacts for players at all levels and stages of the game.

Are there any other sports which you look to in terms of developing initiatives to provide high-quality care and support?

As sports, we are always collaborating on important welfare topics and we are constantly learning from each other. It is the same with independent experts and International Rugby Players. We embrace alternative thinking and always have an open-mind when it comes to the welfare of our family. You can never do enough engaging and listening.

What is the long-term aim of the brain health campaign?

This is a cornerstone of the six-point plan. The education forms part of our wider commitment to brain health that will also include support for free brain health clinics where former players will be able to access expert consultation, advice and clinical assessment. This approach aims to identify the causes of symptoms that former players may have, while identifying new ways to improve brain health within the sport. The long-term goal will be to create role models for younger players starting out on their own rugby journey, while providing wider, valuable support to communities beyond the game.

How has World Rugby’s focus on player welfare developed in recent years?

Player welfare has always been our top priority, and I believe that we have been and continue to be leaders in this area. However, we are a physical collision sport, the contact is very visible and therefore there is naturally a focus on rugby. We always strive to ensure that advancing welfare is embedded within all the decisions we make, whether that be the scheduling of Rugby World Cup, law trials, research commissioning or training an education. This year, we doubled our research and science investment commitment and will continue to take a targeted, evidencebased approach to injuryprevention across all levels of the game. The new plan helps everyone in the game better understand what we are doing and what it means for them. ◆