PLAYER WELFARE COMES FIRST
Practical guidance to help players, coaches, match officials, parents and medical teams prevent injury and respond appropriately to health risks in rugby.
Content last reviewed: November 2026 If a player is unresponsive, not breathing normally, having a seizure, becoming less conscious, has a serious neck injury or collapses without explanation, call 998 for an ambulance and follow the emergency professional’s instructions. Avoid unnecessary movement unless the location is unsafe.
Player welfare is a shared responsibility. Participation must stop when concerning symptoms appear, appropriate care must be arranged and no player should be pressured to return before recovery and appropriate medical guidance. These principles help reduce risk and improve the response when injury or illness occurs. A player should not participate when ill, injured or not fully recovered. Relevant symptoms, injuries and medicines should be disclosed to the medical team. Check the playing surface, surrounding areas, equipment, footwear and mouthguard, and remove hazards before activity begins. Appropriate first-aid cover, communication, known first-aid and AED locations, and ambulance access should be planned. Balance training, matches, rest, sleep and nutrition, and monitor fatigue, pain and performance changes. Use progressive coaching and correct technique in tackle, contact, breakdown and scrum, while following the Laws and match officials. Report and record injuries and near misses, then review what happened to reduce the chance of recurrence. Concussion can occur without loss of consciousness. Any player with suspected concussion must be removed immediately, must not return to play or training that day, and should be assessed by a suitably qualified healthcare professional. Look for headache, dizziness, confusion, balance problems, slow responses, memory loss, behaviour or vision changes. When concussion is suspected, stop the player and remove them safely from play or training. The player should be assessed by a suitably qualified healthcare professional experienced in concussion management. Follow healthcare guidance on relative rest and a gradual return to physical activity, school or work. A player with suspected or diagnosed concussion must not return to play or training on the same day. Return to rugby follows an individualised graduated rehabilitation programme and required medical clearance. High temperature, humidity and physical exertion can increase heat-illness risk. Conditions should be assessed, with water, shade, cooling and adjusted activity and rest periods provided when needed. Check weather, heat and humidity, and plan timing, shade, water, cooling, rest breaks and emergency arrangements. Allow regular drinking and watch for cramps, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness and confusion. Stop activity when symptoms appear. Move the player to a cool shaded area, begin cooling and obtain medical help. Do not leave the player alone. The player should not return until recovered and medically assessed and advised according to the severity of the illness. Confusion, collapse, seizure or deteriorating consciousness in the heat may indicate a medical emergency. Start cooling, call ambulance 998 and arrange urgent medical care. Return should be based on functional recovery, appropriate progression and healthcare guidance — never only on the importance of the match or the player’s wish to continue. Do not allow continued play when pain, weakness or restricted movement may worsen the injury. Obtain appropriate assessment, especially for head, neck, spine, joint injuries or persistent pain. Follow the treatment and rehabilitation plan. Do not use pain relief to hide symptoms for an early return. Movement, strength, balance and rugby-specific skills should be safely restored. Begin with light activity, progress to non-contact training, then full training according to healthcare guidance. Where medical clearance is required, the player must not return until it is completed and documented. The organiser’s and coach’s responsibility begins before an injury occurs, with a safe environment and a clear emergency plan. Emergency plan understood by everyone Qualified first-aid or medical cover and appropriate equipment Working phone, clear venue address and ambulance access Accessible AED with a known location where possible Adequate drinking water, shade and cooling Playing surface, posts and surrounding areas checked Clothing, footwear and protective equipment checked Player medical and emergency-contact information available Heat and severe-weather plan in place Injury recording, referral and follow-up process Official learning and guidance for players, coaches, match officials, parents and medical personnel. The main source for rugby player-welfare policy, research and medical guidance. Learning for players, coaches, parents, match officials and everyone involved in rugby. Online learning in rugby-specific first-aid skills. Risk-management and safe preparation for training and matches. An evidence-based warm-up and physical-preparation programme designed to reduce injury risk. World Rugby guidance for assessing conditions and applying heat-safety interventions. If symptoms are unusual, pain continues or the situation is unclear, do not risk returning the player. Contact a suitably qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, call ambulance 998.
This page provides general education only. It does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment and does not replace assessment by a suitably qualified healthcare professional or emergency services. Always follow the latest World Rugby guidance, applicable healthcare advice and competition regulations. PLAYER WELFARE & SAFETY
If life may be at risk — call an ambulance immediately
No match is more important than a player’s health
Six commitments at every training session and match
Fit to participate
Safe environment and equipment
First aid and emergency plan
Load and recovery
Safe technique
Report and learn
Recognise and remove
Recognise
Remove
Refer
Rest and recover
No same-day return
Graduated, cleared return
Possible signs and symptoms
Red flags requiring urgent assessment
CALL AMBULANCE 998
Plan for heat before taking the field
Before activity
During activity
When symptoms appear
Returning after heat illness
Return to play is a process, not a quick decision
Stop activity
Assess the injury
Treat and rehabilitate
Restore function
Progress the load
Obtain clearance
Training and match safety checklist
Learn with World Rugby
World Rugby Player Welfare
Concussion Management for the General Public
First Aid in Rugby
RugbyReady
Activate Programme
Heat Guidelines
Stop participation and seek medical advice
Player Welfare & SafetyManagement2026-11-11T18:51:24+04:00
UAE RUGBY FEDERATION
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
CALL AMBULANCE 998
CARE BEFORE THE SCORE
SAFETY FOUNDATIONS
HEAD INJURY & CONCUSSION
HEAT & HUMIDITY
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INJURY MANAGEMENT
BEFORE ACTIVITY
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