TOUCHLINE The Official Newspaper of The RFU April 2014 Issue 167 CONCUSSION RECOVERY ESSENTIAL BEFORE RETURN TO PLAY The RFU recently provided clarity and guidance on concussion, reinforcing the message that players must recover fully before returning to play and that young players especially need to be managed more conservatively than adults. While players who suffer concussion should be managed on an individual basis, the RFU’s CANTERBURY & new standards on managing concussion sees a return to play determined by the player’s age and access to medical resources, with a new ENGLAND RUGBY MAKE routine minimum stand-down period of 19 days for adults and 23 days for Under 19s. The minimum for those in an Enhanced Care 100 STUDENTS HAPPY Setting – typically professional and elite age- NICOLA MARSHALL group players – is six days for adults and 12 days for Under 17-19s because their return is closely As 82,000 fans stood silent and the England and Welsh teams lined up before the RBS 6 Nations supervised by an appropriately trained and clash kicked off, 100 secondary state school students from across England took a deep breath before suitably experienced medical practitioner. performing the National Anthem alongside Laura Wright, England Rugby’s official anthem singer. Extending the reach of its concussion The pyrotechnics illuminated their distinctive rugby shirts which they had personally designed at education, the RFU’s new measures include a Canterbury Kit Design Workshop as part of All Schools, England Rugby’s programme to help more a mandatory player safety course for RFU secondary state school students play rugby. As Official Partner, Canterbury, the official kit supplier Licensed Coaches and additional promotional to England Rugby, runs the workshops for each school to get pupils interested in, and actively materials, adding to the RFU’s well-regarded involved in, rugby for their school. They use their school colours, emblems and mottos to inspire existing resources. their drawings, before the kit manufacturer produces the final shirts that are worn with pride by the The standards came into effect last month school’s new rugby team and saw their debut appearance on Twickenham’s hallowed turf. (March) following revised guidelines from the As a passionate ambassador for All Schools, Laura attended one of the workshops to meet the International Rugby Board, who acknowledged students aged between 12 and 18 years and designed her own rugby shirt that she also wore. the diversity in health care support available in different countries and at different levels, Laura said: “It’s always a special moment when I sing at Twickenham, but this was unforgettable. My permitting member Unions to adapt guidelines to suit local circumstances. personalised Canterbury shirt is completely white with a red rose to represent England, musical notes The RFU has consulted with the game and independent medical experts to create a simplified, from the opening of the National Anthem on one sleeve, and the name of my rugby team hidden at the standardised return to play covering players of all ages and at all levels. These stand-down bottom. All Schools gives children, who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity, the chance to play periods are the minimum periods before a player can return to play and may be longer rugby. Pulling on a shirt knowing they’ve designed it will give them a real boost on the pitch.” where appropriate. Choral director, Simon Lole, was on hand to lead the morning’s rehearsal as one student from each The return to play pathway is made up of rest and Graduated Return To Play (GRTP) phases, of the 100 schools that joined the programme in September last year met each other for the first time which together form the minimum stand-down period, and are determined by the player’s and prepared to sing in front of 82,000 supporters. recovery and informed by clinical assessment. Just before kick-off they gathered on the pitch wearing their shirt designs behind Laura Wright, also sporting her own bespoke shirt. After accompanying Laura with the National Anthem, the pupils Continued on page 2… left the pitch and headed to their seats to sit back and enjoy the game, watching a victorious England beat Wales 29-18. England Head Coach, Stuart Lancaster, said: “The anthem is a powerful force of unity and on a match day is crucial in building support from the crowd to get behind the team before kick-off. Having created a shirt myself at one of the Canterbury workshops, where the students were also rugby community ticKEtS learning about the game’s core value, I enjoyed seeing the huge variety of designs on show.” on SALE mAy 16 All Schools, of which Prince Harry is Patron, was set up by the Rugby Football Union in partnership Find out more inside this edition of Touchline or go to with the Rugby Football Foundation to get 750 new state secondary schools playing rugby by 2019 rugbyworldcup.com/rugbycommunity and to encourage new players to join local clubs. Schools that are new to rugby are supported over three years, with kit and equipment, as well as coaching and young leaders training. Over 200 schools are already participating in the programme. TM © RWC Ltd 1986. #RWC2015 Those who support the game of rugby week in and week out will have the opportunity to book a place at next year’s Rugby World Cup tournament when 500,000 tickets go on sale between May 16 and June 30. England’s existing rugby community network of clubs and organisations will nominate members who can participate. See page 3 TOUCHLINE – APRIL 2014 1 Continued from page 1 GRADUATED RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOL The revised RFU guidelines simplify and need, however, for more clarity and guidance to Concussion and player safety information, to mandatory Rugby Ready coaching standardise timelines for all players, especially reinforce the message that players need time to already built into the RFU’s coach, referee foundation course (6-8,000 annually) those under 19, consistent with the advice to recover fully before returning to play and that and medical education programmes as part of • Concussion education delivered by RFU and manage children and adolescent players more young players in particular need to be managed the Don’t be a Headcase programme, and the others as part of community programmes conservatively. They were approved by the more conservatively than adults. What hasn’t HEADCASE online resource, developed with • Delivery at regional coaching seminars for Professional Game Board and Community changed is that being able to return to play is the Headway charity, has been praised as the schools this summer Game Board, the two bodies that manage the still a clinical decision based on an individual leading resource in sport in the UK. It has been Dr Richard Greenwood, a Consultant game in England. player’s recovery.” supported with collateral, including 200,000 Neurologist at Homerton Hospital and Dr Mike England, the RFU Community Rugby Dr Simon Kemp, the RFU Chief Medical awareness cards distributed to the game, the National Hospital for Neurology and Medical Director, said: “We hope everyone Officer, said: “The revised guidelines are referees’ whistle lanyards, players’ and coaches’ Neurosurgery said: “Having reviewed the involved in the game – parents, players, coaches consistent with those of the IRB and the Zurich beanies, and new changing room billboards. RFU’s HEADCASE resource as an independent and medics – take the rationale for the changes Consensus statement and will bring greater expert, I think that it is an excellent source on board and find it helpful in managing consistency to the management of all players but Other education measures include: of information for those involved with rugby. concussion, in conjunction with the online RFU especially the concussed player over 16 who is • RFU Licensed coaches (9,500) to take a It is an accurate, thorough and appropriate HEADCASE resources and the guidance we’ve part of the performance pathway. They recognise Player Safety Course as part of licensing and source of information, based on the most up to made widely available to the game through that not all players can presently access the same re-licensing process date medical consensus. The RFU should be coaching, refereeing and medical education. level of concussion care but will act as a driver • Player Safety Course offered to all registered applauded for making this available in such an “Expert advice is that concussion should be for the development of Enhanced Care Settings coaches (about 15,000) and upgraded accessible format.” managed on an individual basis. There is a in clubs, universities and schools.” face-to-face concussion education added www.rfu.com/headcase ENGLAND’S FINAL TOUR BEFORE WORLD CUP DAVE BARTON England’s three Tests on their New Zealand “This is our final tour before the World Cup tour take place on June 7, 14 and 21 in and is massively important for us to benchmark Auckland, Dunedin and Hamilton, with a ourselves against the number one team in midweek game against the Crusaders between the world. Playing three Tests and a midweek the 2nd and 3rd Tests. match will give us the opportunity to take 35 to England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster 40 players who will get a chance to lay down a said: “To play the World Champions in their marker 15 months out from the World Cup.” own back yard is the ultimate test. We saw New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew in the Rugby Championship and the QBE said: “We are very excited to be hosting England Internationals what a formidable team and who.