Concussed rugby players – from those on the fringe of Super Rugby to 12-year-olds – won’t be allowed to return to action for at least 12 days under stronger player safety rules.
Rugby Australia on Friday said match officials would be able to use a blue card to send off a player suspected of suffering concussion.
That will trigger an off-field response that ensures the incident is recorded, mandates the player is assessed by a doctor and prevents their competition return for a stipulated period.
The ruling will apply from March 1 to all competitions in Australia from under 13s to senior players but it won’t apply to Super Rugby, which is internationally administered.
Players aged 18 and under cannot return to play until 19 days after all symptoms have cleared.
Adult players will be allowed to return one week earlier.
The protocol was trialled in Canberra and Newcastle last year and has been used across New Zealand.
RA said the system reinforces that player safety is paramount in our game.
It has promised to educate match officials, medical attendants, coaches and team managers about the signs and symptoms and management of concussion.
Guidelines concerning player sizes in junior competitions will also change to ensure children outside accepted height and weight ranges are placed in what’s deemed the suitable age group.
Children as young as eight below or above the accepted ranges must now be assessed by a qualified, independent coach.
The governing body says the change was informed by a two-year Australian study that found height needed to be considered as well as weight when moving a player up or down in age group.
piru
Roar Rookie
Thanks Shane, it's just got to be hard to ref a game AND diagnose a concussion in one player out of thirty.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Afternoon Piru, refs in NZ have been instructed for years to remove a player from the field if they feel for any reason he is at risk of further injury. At the lower levels often there are no medicos to make it the call & leaving it to the player or coach can lead to tragedy. I have had to remove multiple players over the years, one memorable one was a 17 year old prop who kept dislocating his shoulder. After the 3rd time I made the call to request he be replaced. Much discussion with the player & coach resulted but at the end of the day the ref can be held liable in the courts in NZ if they don’t follow the protocol. The players Mum sought me out after the game to thank me for looking after her son & that’s all the vindication I needed.
piru
Roar Rookie
I like the idea of officials being able to remove a player from play, but is the responsibility on the referee in this case? Medicos really need to be making this call