CONCUSSION ADVICE AND INFORMATION
Recognised as one of the UK’s leading concussion awareness and education resources, the RFU’s HEADCASE programme aims to increase understanding and provide information on concussion and other related topics, including how to prevent and manage suspected concussions.
To complete one of the free online education HEADCASE modules please click link below under concussion management:
For general information on concussion and the HEADCASE programme see the RFU's General Information page.
Concussion Prevention and Recognition
Concussion can occur any day in the street, on school playgrounds and in the workplace. Rugby is a contact sport and, while it is impossible to completely remove the risk of concussion, there are a number of measures which can markedly reduce the risk and prevent concussions occurring.
Activate
Activate is the RFU’s Injury Prevention Exercise Programme that can be integrated into training and pre-match sessions. Exercises are designed to improve functional and core strength, balance and agility, helping players with the game’s physical demands.
Regularly doing Activate exercise can:
- Improve playing performance
- Prepare players for the physical demands of the game
- Reduce the risk of injury including concussion, as well as support rehabilitation post injury
- Mean more players are available (due to less players being injured)
Activate eLearning Module
This eLearning course explains what Activate is, how it can used within training sessions and as part of match-day preparations to improve a players ability to deal with the game’s physical demands, reducing the risk of concussion and other injuries, meaning more players available.
- Minimum Age: 14
- Duration: 30 mins
- When: All Year
- Cost: Free
- Access the Course
Concussion Recognition Tools
The CRT 6 (Concussion Recognition Tool) can be used by anyone (i.e. non Health Care Professionals) for the identification and immediate management of a suspected concussion. It is not designed to diagnose concussion.
Playing Consequences
If a player shows any signs of concussion, they must not be allowed to continue playing or to return to the game. The player must be evaluated by a first aider in attendance and RFU Concussion Guidance which emphasises the HEADCASE programme of support, MUST be followed.
The RFU’s HEADCASE programme aims to increase understanding and provide information on concussion and other related topics, including how to prevent and manage suspected concussions. It is recognised as one of the UK’s leading concussion awareness and education resources.
Concussion Management
In age grade rugby, coaches, teachers and parents must encourage players to report concussive incidents/head injuries that occur during games and training sessions, and also to report those that occur out of rugby. It is also essential that parents communicate with both the school and club to ensure there is full understanding and cooperation in the management of a player’s suspected concussion and their return to learning and playing.
In adult rugby, coaches and team mates must encourage players to report concussions or head injuries occurring during games and training sessions, and to also report concussions that occur out of rugby.
Players should not only communicate with the club but also their workplace/university to ensure there is full understanding and cooperation in the management of their suspected concussion, along with their return to work/learning and playing.
Hampshire RFU has guidance and processes in place which mean that Basingstoke RFC working partnership with most schools and colleges to ensure that there is a consistent approach to a player’s return to sports activity. This includes informing any U18 player’s school or college should they receive a report of a concussion or concussive incident.
All concussions or head injuries which result in a player being removed from play and/or being placed on a Graduated Return to Sport programme (even where this is precautionary) must be reported to Hampshire RFU using the adult or youth player smartsheet below. This is vital so that players' injuries can be recorded throughout their playing journey, to help us make better decisions around return to play times for repeat injuries, and most of all, to ensure we manage return to play after head injury as effectively and safely as possible.
All concussions MUST also reported by the first aider or team manager on the First Aid Injury Management App Proactive.
Hampshire RFU Club concussion reporting smartsheets:
Youth Concussion CLUB / School reporting form 2024-25
Adult Concussion CLUB / University reporting form 2024-25
Click Here for new RFU GRAS Programme booklet from the RFU.
ANY Player who has suffered a suspected (displays symptoms of a concussion) or confirmed concussion will not play or undertake any contact training for a minimum of 2 weeks.
All first aid kits should have updated Headcase cards to provide the parents of any player who has a suspected concussion.
Basingstoke RFC requires all players who are following the Graduated Return to Sport activity (GRAS) procedures to complete the players' online concussion training.
ALL Basingstoke RFC PLAYERS, COACHES, VOLUNTEER AND PARENTS are STRONGLY encouraged to take the 20 minute online education HEADCASE modules:
England Rugby concussion E-Learning (Headcase) which will explain what concussion is, how it happens and what you can do to support the RFU'S Headcase Programme.
ALL Basingstoke players who have suffered a head injury, suspected or confirmed concussion will follow the RFU GRAS with their own individual record which is managed by the Team Manager and an appointed first aider. Final Stage 5 circuit assessments will be undertaken by a suitably qualified Coach and emergency First Aider.
The Concussion Tacker tool on Proactive will also be used to support the management of a player’s return.
Further Information
For further information please click on any of the below links:
- Full information from the RFU about HEADCASE can be found here.
- Hampshire's Concussion page can be found here
- Hampshire RFU Concussion information -
Download - HRFU Concussion Reporting Advice - Download
- HRFU Adult concussion flowchart - Download
- HRFU Youth concussion flowchart - Download
- HRFU GRAS Checklist - Download
