Player Safety and Welfare
Colleges and other organisers of rugby activities have a responsibility towards the health and safety of players, staff and volunteers. England Rugby Colleges has a dedicated section on its website relating to RugbySafe Schools and Colleges.
Colleges will have their own safeguarding policies and protocols which will be adhered to in cases involving children and vulnerable adults. However, colleges should also be aware that England Rugby Colleges has its own safeguarding resources.
RugbySafe Schools and Colleges deals with:
- Player Safety Regulation 9
- Insurance
- Risk assessment
- First Aid/Immediate Care Provision
- First Aid/Immediate Care Training
- Minimum Standards for Coaches and Referees
- First Aid Facilities & Equipment
- Medical Emergency Action Plan
- Incident & Injury Recording/Reporting
- Management of Suspected Concussions
- RugbySafe Best Practice
The section with respect to insurance covers many areas, but it should be noted that liability cover is not arranged by England Rugby Colleges for schools and colleges. Therefore, cover must be provided by the individual educational establishment.
Headcase
For England Rugby Colleges guidance on the management and prevention of concussion specifically relating to schools and colleges, visit the Headcase Schools and Colleges page.
The wider England Rugby Colleges resource on concussion can be found on the England Rugby Colleges Headcase page.
Activate
Activate is the England Rugby Colleges Injury Prevention Exercise Programme that can be integrated into training and pre-match sessions. Further information can be found on the England Rugby Colleges Activate page.
Nutrition
At all levels of the game, a better approach to nutrition can improve performance on the pitch. England Rugby Colleges has collaborated with industry-leading nutritionists to create a food-for-rugby nutrition hub, which provides a wealth of information on nutrition.
Specific areas to note include:
Anti-Doping and Illicit Drugs
England Rugby Colleges fully supports and endorses the RFU position statement on supplements.
Players, coaches and parents are urged to ensure that they understand the risks associated with supplements and are able to make informed decisions about their use.
In particular, England Rugby Colleges agrees with the statement that “The RFU firmly advocates a ‘food-first’ approach to nutrition, with supplements only resorted to when there are no food solutions reasonably possible.”
Further information is available through the RFU’s supplement guidance and supplement warnings.
England Rugby Colleges strongly encourages all those involved in rugby in any capacity to make themselves aware of, and where necessary familiar with, the RFU’s position on anti-doping and illicit drugs.
This resource covers all areas relating to the use of drugs, including use in a social setting as well as in a sporting setting. Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is also covered within this resource.
For more college-specific information and webinars, please visit the England Rugby Colleges YouTube channel.