Asia Rugby Player Welfare and Medical Committee face-to-face meeting in Singapore

The Asia Rugby Player Welfare Medical Committee (PWMC) held a face-to-face meeting in Singapore in May 2023. The committee discussed various topics related to player welfare and reached the following outcomes:

Sub Regions

It was highlighted that regular communication with each of the Unions’ CMO/Medical Manager/Medical Liaison Officer is key in order to be able to assist everyone in terms of player welfare needs. This includes assistance in course delivery and tournament medical compliance.

Medical Compliance for Competitions & Blue Card System Launch
This year, will mark the start of the Blue Card System implementation for the following international tournaments: AR Sevens Series, AR Sevens Trophy Competition, Hangzhou Asian Games, and Olympic Qualifiers. By 2024, Blue Card System will also be in place for the 15s competitions starting with the ARC. ARPOWMC will host a virtual acquaint/workshop for all the Asia Rugby referees on June 28th 2023, and another virtual acquaint/workshop will be done with the national team coaches for each union before the start of the 7s tournaments.

World Rugby Union Development Questionnaire (UDQ)

Ms. Isabel Grondin (World Rugby Medical Education Manager), hosted an online discussion about the UDQ – Player Welfare area. This was attended by several CMO’s and medical managers of the unions in Asia. Areas of focus under the UDQ were also used as a guide for Benchmarking of the proposed activities of the AR PWMC. See Table 1: Benchmarking and Goals for 2023-34 below.

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Women’s Player Welfare Sub Committee

Targets for the Women’s Player Welfare Subcommittee were also raised as below:

a) Increase Medical T&E workforce from 10-15% to 20%
b) Alignment with World Rugby’s Women’s Player Welfare Working Group on acquiring and dissemination of information regarding Injury Prevention (Activate, Tackle Ready – gender specific, Breakdown Ready – gender specific) for female rugby players, and;
c) Collaboration with Asia Rugby Injury Surveillance System centre.

Player Welfare and Medical Committee
Table 1: Benchmarking and Goals for 2023-34

Theme | Goals for 23-24 |
Regional Association Player Welfare Steering Group | Define roles of each Area Leader and Establish contact points in Each union |

Tournament Medical Guidelines and Operating Procedures

A. Have the 4 main documents updated and ready for 2024 tournament allocations
1. Tournament Manual
2. Expression of Interest to Host Letter
3. Host Union Agreement
4. Terms of ParticipationB. Policy development regarding deployment of MCM on competitions distributed

World Rugby Catastrophic and Fatal Injury Reporting Procedure.

A. Educate the medical lead of each union on follow up on catastrophic and fatal injuries

B. Signpost forms to union CMO’s

Concussion Protocols

MCM to set the tone relative to player welfare priority at these key events:

2023
-Aug/Sept ARSS + ARST
-Sept Asia Games
-Olympic Qualifiers

2024
-ARC

A. Blue Card Rugby Asia information to be added to the 7s competitions manual.
B. Virtual Acquaint/Workshop for referees in Asia
C. Virtual Acquaint for all Union National Team Coaches
D. Signpost on the AR web the information delivered in the acquaint/workshop

Regional Association Tournament Injury Surveillance

A. Development plan for ISS start-up
B. Tender- recruitment
C. Trial Period
D. Contract for 3 years
E. Center does not have to have any rugby background
F. 2024 Asia ISS Center up and running
G.Mike Hislop asked post Reports form ISS Asia center to Asia Rugby website.

Regional Association Tournament Immediate Care Provision.

MCM to set the tone relative to player welfare priority at these key events:

2023
-Aug/Sept ARSS + ARST
-Sept Asia Games
-Olympic Qualifiers

2024
-ARC

Updated documents to reflect the current World Rugby standards. |
Union Immediate Care Education | Refer to AR Regional T&E calendar |

Injury Prevention & Risk Management. | MCM to set the tone
Pre-participation Guidelines
Contact Load
Player Load
Additional World Rugby Player Welfare Guidelines | Player Welfare