Injury Management

Rugby is a physical contact sport. Injuries can and do occur as a result of playing rugby, either through isolated injuries or through continuous playing of the game over time.

Participants should always consider their own fitness before commencing the playing of rugby and before any game. Participants should take their own medical advice before playing and especially following an injury (following concussion this is mandatory).

The safety of all players is of paramount importance and therefore all clubs must ensure that, wherever the game is played or training is conducted:

1. there is appropriate first aid cover and equipment provided, determined by a risk assessment;
2. there is access to a telephone to ensure emergency services can be called immediately; and
3. there is clear vehicular access for an ambulance or other emergency vehicle.

World Rugby provides a range of educational modules to help all stakeholders learn about Player Welfare best practice. Please visit playerwelfare.worldrugby.org to access player welfare information such as First Aid in Rugby and Concussion Management.

Injury Prevention

Basic physical preparation and skill development prior to playing rugby for all coaches, teachers and referees is available on the following download.

School Emergency Medical Action Plan

Health & Safety Club Medical Emergency Action Plan

All players from the age of 15 are encouraged to complete the World Rugby online Rugby Ready self-check assessment. This is compulsory for all U16 in U18 rugby and U18 in adult rugby.

Injury Reporting

The new process for reporting serious injuries in SCRUMS is now live.

Only SCRUMS users with either of the following levels of permission, will be able to report an injury;

1. Administrator (full access)
2. Coach (teamsheets / injury reports)

To report a serious injury please log into SCRUMS and click on ‘injury reporting’. Follow the steps in the injury reporting training guide.

SCRUMS Injury Reporting Guide

A Serious Injury Report must be completed if any player has a rugby injury or related illness and as a result:

1. Attends hospital or is seen by a medical practitioner
2. Has a suspected or confirmed concussion

What information do I need?

1. details of the injury, including date, type of match, position playing whilst hurt, type of tackle, where the tackle was from, whether the player was wearing any protection
2. details of the treatment, such as details of pitch-side treatment, admission and release dates from hospital, name of hospital, body parts affected

The personal data submitted when completing this form will be processed by Scottish Rugby Union Limited in accordance with its Privacy Policy.

What happens next?

When the injury report has been submitted, AON (the insurers), Scottish Rugby and the player’s club or school will receive an email. The player (or parent for U18 players) also receives a notification that an injury report has been submitted. The insurer may contact the injured player or the person who completed the report if further information is required.

Please note Scottish Rugby’s insurance policy covers participation in the game from the age of 5 (Primary 1) to 59 years of age.

Please contact Richard Wood, Medical Services Manager (Email: [email protected] Tel: 0131 346 5019) should you have any questions.