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- IRB prioritising global education campaign
- Resource to be rolled out to 119 Member Unions
- Compulsory education programmes at IRB tournamentsThe International Rugby Board has stepped up its commitment to the promotion of concussion awareness with the delivery of a new resource aimed at educating the public.
Concussion is a public health issue that affects all sports and the IRB’s message to the global Rugby community is simple – Recognise and Remove.
Available at www.irbplayerwelfare.com, the Recognise and Remove resource has been overseen by a group of independent concussion experts who are working with the IRB to continue to advance concussion education, prevention, management and research.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RESOURCE>>
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE POSTER>>
The resource features a simple guide to concussion for players, coaches, parents and referees, outlines the symptoms and calls upon the Rugby community to Recognise and Remove any player displaying symptoms or suspected symptoms.
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Concussion education sits at the top of the IRB’s player welfare strategies aimed at informing, supporting and protecting players at all levels of the Game.”
“This enhanced resource is designed to assist our Unions with changing culture, educating players, coaches and family members at all levels about concussion symptoms and the need to treat any head injury with caution and care.”
“The IRB continues to place education first and at the elite level, players and medics participating in IRB Age Grade and Sevens events will take part in a compulsory concussion education programme, while awareness and education will continue to play a core role in the delivery of practical and online IRB coach, referee and educator courses for the community Game.”
“I would like to thank our Member Unions and the panel of independent expert advisors for their full support of this important player welfare education initiative.”
Supporting materials include a Recognise and Remove poster (available in 11 languages) and guidance for the general public, which will also be available in 11 languages, while a Recognise and Remove video and social media awareness campaign is being produced featuring some of the biggest names in the Game.
Editors notes
Independent Concussion Advisory Group members: Professor Caroline Finch (Injury Prevention Researcher; Federation University Australia); Professor Bob Cantu (Neurosurgeon, Boston University); Dr Willie Stewart (Clinical Neuroscientist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow University) and Dr Jon Patricios (Sports Physician, South Africa)
IRB Concussion Education Programme
- Concussion education module for Union match day medical staff
- Concussion education delivered to 119 Unions at IRB General Assembly
- Mandatory concussion education for IRB Match Officials
- Mandatory concussion education components within the IRB Rugby Ready programme (115,000 completions)
- Mandatory education at IRB Junior World Championship and IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy
- More than 4,300 completions of the concussion specific modules available at www.irbplayerwelfare.com/concussion
- 380 completions of the IRB Match Day Medical Staff course with specific Pitch-side Suspected Concussion Assessment (PSCA) module
- Ongoing work to support four key groups of stakeholders:
i) General Public
ii) General Practitioners
iii) Health Care Professionals working with Rugby teams
iv) Union Chief Medical Officers
