What you need to know
RugbySafe is the RFU’s overarching player safety and wellbeing programme, putting player welfare at the heart of the game and covering how the game should be played and managed to ensure that rugby is as safe as possible.
The RFU provides guidance and resources for all rugby activity organisers on what needs to be in place to create a fun and safe playing environment.
RFU training courses and development opportunities for coaches, match officials, teachers, and other volunteers, increase awareness of the game’s key safety elements.
The RFU also engages in key safety research, with findings used to inform the game.
Values & Cultures
Provide information on how the embedding of the core values and creating a positive culture is a fundamental element to making the game fun and safe.
Playing Environment
Provides information, guidance and resources for clubs, schools, colleges, universities, and other rugby activity organisers on what needs to be in place and how provision and other aspects should be managed to enable a fun and safe playing environment.
Education & Development
Provides information on the RFU’s training courses and other development opportunities for coaches, match officials, teachers, and other volunteers that increase awareness of the game and key safety elements.
The Game
Provides information, guidance and resources on different playing opportunities, the laws and regulations of the game, and the role those playing in providing a fun and safe game for all.
What Rugby Safe Is Not!
- Stop the Contact
- Ban tackling in Schools
- Stop the scrummage
- Slow down the game
- Reduce the size of the players
- Stop rucks and mauls
- Change the game as we know it
RUGBY SAFE – BERKSHIRE REPORT 2019/20
CONCLUSIONS
SENIOR RUGBY
Senior Men’s Rugby is pretty well covered at 1st team level but not always covered in lower sides
JUNIOR RUGBY
- Poor Reporting
- Going by reporting >50% of injuries are for concussion
- Majority of clubs in Berkshire do not know what injuries are happening in Junior Rugby
LADIES RUGBY (PITCHSIDE)
- Afterthought
- Appears to be the poor cousin to the rest of the RFU at present.
RUGBY SAFE BERKSHIRE
- To provide information and promote player welfare as a Priority #1 within ALL clubs within the county
- Before the RFU mandate it – To have a first aider available at ALL games from Vets through to U13.
- Grow the games at all levels and for all age groups from Vets through to Minis
- Play and enjoy the game for longer!
WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE DONE BY CLUBS
- All clubs to have a nominated Rugby Safe Lead involved at Committee Level. This should also be registered on GMS – Rugby Safe Rep is now a GOLD ROLE
- Note: This does not need to be a medical resource which at a lot of clubs are a paid resource.
- All clubs to provide monthly statistics of injuries including concussions using forms already provided.
- Attend two meetings during Season 2019/2020 to discuss Rugby Safe implementation in Berkshire
- Proactively escalate concerns about player Welfare
RUGBY SAFE PROMOTIONS within BERKSHIRE
- Tie in between Junior Injury reporting specifically concussion and promoting liaison between schools and clubs.
- (To be piloted in West Berkshire and worked on over the pre-season Summer period).
- Video to be produced on Concussion and the impacts to be made available for all clubs.
- Whistle Blowing – Not to penalise clubs but to educate
More Information
The RugbySafe Essential Guides and FAQs provide information on topics from playing with medical conditions to wearing protective equipment. A copy of this can be downloaded as an attachment.
Simply click on the link below.
Contact
More specific advice regarding player welfare and health-related to rugby can be obtained by contacting Berkshire’s Rugby Safe Manager Andrew Spaak
Email: Andrew.j.Spaak@btinternet.com Mob: 07815 290587
Martin Paice Mob: 07990 078121
