Concussion is a brain injury that upsets how the brain functions.

Your brain is the body’s control centre so upset brain function will result in changes in behaviour, mood and thinking as well as how you feel.

The tackle area is where most concussive episodes occur (approximately 74%).

High tackles are particularly dangerous as both tackler and ball carrier have their heads in the same space. However, concussion can occur in other phases of the game.

Remember any mechanism that causes rapid slowing of a person’s body can shoogle the brain and potentially result in concussion.

Concussions can happen to anyone. People may be more susceptible to based on their age or gender, or previous concussion history.

There is NO head injury assessment (HIA) within the community game.

All players with a suspected concussion must be removed immediately from play, and not return.

Team mates, coaches and team staff, match officials, managers, administrators, partners and parents/carers who suspect someone may have a concussion MUST do their best to ensure they are removed from play in a safe manner and do not return that day. We all have a part to play.

It’s vital that if you think you have sustained a concussion that you let your coaches, team management and family members know.

It is also advised that the player seeks advice from an onsite health care professional (HCP) or NHS24 (111) for diagnosis and advice, again even if symptoms have quickly gone. This should occur within 24 hours.

All Concussive episodes should be entered onto SCRUMS using the injury reporting tool so that Scottish Rugby has access to as accurate concussion rates as possible.

You will then follow the Graduated Return to Play Protocols. More on this can be found below.

Players returning to training and playing must follow the Graduated Return to Play Protocols. These are earliest permissible return to play dates after a suspected concussion.

These protocols are mandatory.

Scottish Rugby’s current concussion policy is under review following updated information and guidance from the Government and the Sport and Recreation Alliance. As such, until a revised policy is published, Scottish Rugby advises all players to follow the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Graduated Return to Play protocols below:

• The earliest a player can return to contact training is Day 14 after the concussion occurred – this is regardless of age or gender.
• The earliest a player can return to a full-contact match is Day 21 after the concussion occurred – this is regardless of age or gender.

In all cases these protocols MUST be followed prior to the players return to play.

Returning to rugby activity requires a staged approach.

The speed at which physical activity and then rugby/sporting activity will vary greatly between individuals.

It is possible to start returning to some sporting activity while still experiencing symptoms, however, these should be mild and the activity should not cause new or worsening symptoms.

Pushing too quickly through a staged return if symptoms are worsened by activity will prolong recovery.

Every concussion is unique and should be managed accordingly.

In April 2023, the Government and the Sport and Recreation Alliance published the first UK-wide Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport which will help players, coaches, parents, schools, National Governing Bodies and sports administrators to identify, manage and prevent the issue.

The guidelines, developed by an expert panel of domestic and international clinicians and academics in neurology and sports medicine, sets out steps to improve understanding and awareness of the prevention and treatment of concussion in grassroots sport where trained medical professionals are less likely to be routinely present. It is targeted at people of all ages.

This guidance has been supported by the Scottish Government and sportscotland.

Click HERE for the full DCMS guidance document.

Scottish Rugby is taking time to reflect the latest guidance from the Government and the Sport and Recreation Alliance to understand how and when this guidance will be applied to our concussion policy for clubs, schools and societies.

Ahead of a published update, Scottish Rugby requires all players to follow the DCMS Graduated Return to Play Protocols (linked above).

Scottish Rugby has the welfare of all our players both current and former central to all we do.

In May 2022, Scottish Rugby introduced the Brain Health Clinic by partnering with organisations such as HITIQ to improve our understanding of concussion and contact in rugby through head impact sensor technology in mouthguards, alongside partnering in a number of other research projects

Providing a service initially to former Scotland players the pilot Brain Health Clinic, thought to be the first of its kind, has been developed by Scottish Rugby’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr James Robson and Prof Craig Ritchie (University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian).

You can read more about the Brain Health Clinic, HERE.

On Wednesday 12 April, Scottish Rugby announced that a lower maximum tackle height law trial of below the sternum will be implemented across the community game, beginning in the 2023/24 season, with the aim of reducing the number of concussions in the game.

Click HERE to read the news story published.

To learn more about the Tackle Height law trials, visit Scottish Rugby’s Tackle Height Hub, HERE.

In World Rugby endorsed trials conducted in France and South Africa, lowering the tackle height has been shown to reduce the number of head-on-head contacts and concussions. Lowering the tackle height has also shown positive outcomes regarding increased ball-in-play time and offloading.

• Trials in France resulted in a 64% reduction in head-on-head contacts and a 23% reduction on concussions.
• Research shows that by lowering the tackle height there will be a significant reduction in concussions.

Scottish Rugby has created a Concussion Information Pack to equip users with easy to access information on concussion.

Click here to access the Concussion Information Pack.

Click here to download our Concussion Poster.

Rugby Right

Scottish Rugby’s ‘RugbyRight’ course provides information and content around a wide range of player welfare subjects including as concussion management and tackle safety.

The RugbyRight course must be completed by all coaches and match officials, and they are required to complete this course on an annual basis.

Click HERE to find out more about RugbyRight.

Scottish Rugby also offers year-round training and education courses.

Concussion E-learning Module

The new concussion module which makes up the wider RugbyRight course is now available for members of the wider rugby community to complete.

The course includes comprehensive support to help identify and manage concussion, and provides clear information on the graduated return to play protocols at all ages and stages of the game.

Scottish Rugby encourages all players, volunteers and parents to undertake it.

Click HERE to complete the course.

SCRUMCAPS

Scottish Rugby has launched a new SCRUMSCAPS First Aid Level 1 course which will replace the old World Rugby: First Aid in Rugby Level 1 (FAIR) course. The SCRUMSCAPS First Aid Level 1 aims to equip learners with some of the basic skills needed to deliver care until emergency help arrives.

To find out if there is a SCRUMCAPS First Aid Level 1 course happening near you, please visit SCRUMS.

Compliance with Scottish Rugby’s concussion policy is mandatory for all those participating in the game in Scotland.

Scottish Rugby’s current concussion policy is under review following updated information and guidance from the Government and the Sport and Recreation Alliance. As such, until a revised policy is published, Scottish Rugby advises all players to follow the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Graduated Return to Play protocols below.

You can find the current policy, HERE.

On Tuesday 1 August, Scottish Rugby launched a ground-breaking plan Player Welfare Action Plan designed to reduce and better manage injuries at all levels of the community game, and to ensure the game remains enjoyable for all.

The Action Plan has a dedicated focus on eight key objectives which put player welfare at the forefront of on and off-pitch activity delivery, utilising an evidence-based approach for decision making.

The Action Plan has been developed by Scottish Rugby’s Welfare Manager, Dr Karen Barclay, Chief Medical Officer, Dr James Robson and Head of Game Development, Neil Graham.

Aligned to World Rugby’s six-point plan for player welfare, key areas the Action Plan addresses include pitch side care, concussion management, age banding, laws, education, research, wellbeing and coaching.

To read the Player Welfare Action Plan and access supporting documents, click HERE.