Global Partners

Player Welfare

World Rugby’s Player Welfare strategy is to put the player first and to rely on an evidence-based approach for all decisions.


The Player Welfare site has information on the policies and procedures World Rugby use across the sport, whether it’s the surface being played on, the equipment being used or prevention and treatment of injuries. The guidelines cover both playing and medical aspects of the game.


Some of the research that was used in this decision-making process is also available.


World Rugby are always looking to add to the information available to make the game as safe as possible for all, if you have any suggestions please let us know.

Belgium v Germany: Black Devils attack

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  • Tue 21 June, 2022
"Gold standard" Dr Bob Cantu on elite rugby's new Graduated Return to Play protocols

Player Welfare News
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Player Welfare

World Rugby Player Welfare Symposium hears how new data could form the basis of updated contact training load guidelines

World Rugby’s 2023 Player Welfare Symposium has heard how the international federation is planning on using new data to start to re-examine rugby’s contact training load guidelines. A World Rugby funded study involving elite players in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa using both smart mouthguards and saliva biomarker technology is being used for the first time to look closely at forces on the head which do not directly lead to concussions.
Read now on World Rugby
Wed 24 May, 2023
· 2 min read
Australia v New Zealand - O'Reilly Cup

Player Welfare

Rugby World Cup 2021 to set new benchmark for player welfare

Rugby World Cup 2021 will kick off this week, with the best rugby players in the world, supported by the most advanced player welfare standards ever delivered at a rugby event.  Player welfare is World Rugby’s number one priority and the international federation is using the tournament to help improve the level of rugby specific, academic research on head impacts in the women.
Read now on RWC 2021
Thu 6 October, 2022
· 2 min read
PLAYER WELFARE VIDEOS
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Tue 21 June, 2022
"Gold standard" Dr Bob Cantu on elite rugby's new Graduated Return to Play protocols