REGULATION 10 REGULATION 10. MEDICAL Concussion is a brain injury, which is serious and can be suffered by a Player of any age. Concussion and suspected concussion must be taken extremely seriously by all those involved in the Game in order to protect the safety, health and welfare of Players. Extra caution must also be taken with children and adolescents who have a greater risk of concussion and associated complications. 10.1 Concussion ADULTS 10.1.1 Any ADULT Player with concussion or suspected concussion: (a) must be immediately and permanently removed from training or the field of play; and (b) should be assessed by a medical practitioner or an approved healthcare professional (as approved in the relevant jurisdiction); and (c) must not return to training or to play in a Match on the same day and until symptom free; and (d) must have complete physical and cognitive rest for 24 hours; and (e) must have relative physical rest (activity that does not induce or aggravate symptoms) for at least one week (including the initial 24 hour period of complete physical and cognitive rest) before commencing a graduated return to play (GRTP) programme referred to at 10.1.1(f)-(g) below. The Player must be symptom free before commencing the GRTP; and (f) must successfully follow and complete a GRTP programme which must be consistent with World Rugby’s GRTP Protocol contained in the World Rugby Concussion Guidance which is available here; and (g) should receive clearance from a medical practitioner or approved healthcare professional prior to commencing the full contact training stage of the GRTP programme. 10.1.2 The following exceptions may apply: (a) The one week rest period (in 10.1.1(e)) is obligatory regardless of whether the Player has become symptom free unless the Player has successfully accessed an ‘advanced level of concussion care’ (as defined in the World Rugby Concussion Protocol). In any event, there is no exception to the initial 24 hour period of complete physical and cognitive rest; Last update: 3 January, 2017 197
World Rugby Handbook
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