New World Rugby plan includes brain health care for ex-players
World Rugby have launched a new six-point plan to advance player welfare in rugby which includes the provision of aftercare for former players left stricken by brain injuries. The game’s global governing body came under scrutiny last December when it emerged that a group of ex-players – including England 2003 World Cup winner Steve Thompson and Wales’ Alix Popham – were preparing a negligence claim after they were diagnosed with early-onset dementia.
This was followed in February by the setting up in February of Progressive Rugby, a lobby group headed by the likes of James Haskell and Jamie Cudmore who presented a list of desired changes and requested to speak with senior World Rugby figures to “discuss how we can work together to get control of this issue that threatens the very future of our game”.
Five months later, World Rugby have now launched a six-point plan where number one in their half-dozen principal commitments is the advancing of best practice in care, information and support for former players struggling or concerned about their health.
Alan Gilpin, who was appointed World Rugby CEO in March in succession to Brett Gosper, told a media briefing attended by RugbyPass: “We are working with some public health authorities and providers and brain health specialists to pilot and then roll out a series of facilities for players to avail of who have got concerns about their own brain health as a result of concussions in the game.
“An elite level focused education programme through players’ associations will roll that out and there will be a partnership with a number of healthcare providers to make sure we are making available some post-career care for players who can then with that support make further assessments about what further steps they need to take.
It hasn't taken long for the governing body to say its piece in the wake of ex-England forward Haskell generating headlines with his new Progressive Rugby lobby grouphttps://t.co/EssLghCs4L
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 18, 2021
“The science around this area is always evolving and we have to push to do more. In this area the last year we have obviously heard some incredibly brave testimonies from former players who have come forward and talked about their own struggles with dementia. They are of course very much part of the rugby family and we will always stand with them in those struggles and want to talk about caring for former players.
“Since I have been appointed CEO I have made a commitment to hear from voices all across rugby, from everybody involved in the game, and we believe as an organisation in openness and transparency and engagement and we have definitely applied that approach to this whole area since day one and we will continue very much to do so.
“What we know is if the sport is going to continue to grow and prosper around the world we need to present the sport as a sport that is safe for people to play in all its forms. We already make a pretty big investment in player welfare, the resources we apply to it, the initiatives and the actions we are taking, and we have got a commitment from our own executive board to double that investment as we move forward. We can do more with more resources and investment.”
The other five principal commitments in the new World Rugby six-point plan include: innovation led by science and research, the review and evolution of the laws of the game to safeguard players, a dedicated focus on the women’s game, continued investment in education, and open engagement with the rugby family.
An open letter accompanied the plan’s launch, chairman Bill Beaumont writing: “I’m clear that continuing to put player welfare front and centre is critical if we are to grow our sport. The welfare of our players has always been our number one priority, and the plan we are releasing underlines that commitment.
“It’s a plan by the game for the game and will have consultation at its heart. We want to build on recent constructive conversations with current and former players, fans and organisations, to make sure we hear from everyone on how to secure the future of the game we all love.”
WORLD RUGBY’S SIX-POINT ACTION PLAN
1. A focus on former players: Advancing best practice in care, information and support for former players struggling or concerned about their health.
2. Innovation led by science and research: World Rugby will continue to bring together a variety of scientific perspectives on concussion in sport to make sure we are learning from each development in the science and focusing investment into concussion and head impact in rugby studies in particular. This means further investment in research and technology to improve player safety and optimise head injury assessments and the application of the graduated return to play protocols.
'I have no recollection of winning the World Cup in 2003 or of being in Australia for the tournament'https://t.co/80UcOUc4yS
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 8, 2020
3. Continue to review and evolve the laws of the game to safeguard players: The two initiatives announced – global law trials and the introduction of independent concussion consultants – are the first of a series of actions planned in this area. This includes a dedicated focus on a more flexible approach at a community level as well as a global forum on the game later this year and acting on the outcomes of the ground-breaking study by the University of Otago in New Zealand to make any required adjustments at the community and under-age levels. The following working groups will continue to monitor their respective specialist areas: Head contact process, breakdown, TMO, scrum and community law.
4. A dedicated focus on the women’s game: Recognising both the growth potential and unique nature of women’s rugby. Measures will include dedicated research investment across the community and elite women’s rugby and women’s game-specific law reviews.
5. Continued investment in education: We will strengthen the provision of information, tools and resources to everyone involved in the game when it comes to head impacts and player welfare. This will include a new recognise and remove head injury education programme and app, a best-practice safe tackle technique programme for the whole game, and rollout of the activate injury prevention warm-up programme with a proven concussion and injury prevention benefits across all unions and regions.
6. Open engagement with the rugby family: We will consult widely and deeply across the community and professional game, for men’s and women’s rugby. Where this means embracing non-traditional channels and platforms to reach rugby fans and players, we will do so.
'…he came into the changing room on his own, grabbed one of the coaches & said, ‘Can you grab Charlie?’
Rising England prospect @atkinsonc_ talks to @heagneyl ???about his rise, being thrown in the deep end at @WaspsRugby & THAT Farrell tackle #ENGvUSA https://t.co/GJbBXQ2VeU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 4, 2021
World Rugby have also announced that that from August 1, a package of welfare-driven law trials will be globally operational on August 1, most notably a 50:22 rule on kicking into touch in the opposition’s 22 with the result that the attacking team would secure a lineout.
The second is confirmation that the international federation will fund a programme of independent concussion consultants, not affiliated to either of the two teams playing, who will assess the suitability of a player’s return to play should they progress through the sport’s graduated return to play protocol within ten days.
Numerous transformational programmes will also be implemented at a global and domestic level. Reflecting a similar commitment in France, the RFU at the community level in England will be implementing and evaluating a waist height tackle law variation, restricting late dipping/leading into contact with the head by the ball carrier in approximately 1,200 matches at U16 to U18 age grades during 2021/22.
'I genuinely believe this is something that is going to help change the game'
After Paul Gustard left, a new technology radically altered how @Harlequins trained. @heagneyl ??? talks to @RichardLanc of @PROTECHTPro https://t.co/R2k48UfIJB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 11, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments