SERIOUS fears over rugby player welfare have been sparked by a Coventry University study which shows three quarters of amateur clubs ‘don’t have adequate medical provision’.
The research argues clubs don’t meet the standards required to help injured athletes, according to Rugby Football Union (RFU) regulations.
The Coventry and Hartpury Universities study found only a quarter of 91 clubs surveyed were compliant with RFU guidelines.
Nearly a third of the clubs were unsure if their medical personnel had any first aid qualifications.
About one in four clubs had no access to medical personnel or only one person in this role.
Two thirds of clubs did not have access to a defibrillator and around one in five did not have easy access for emergency services vehicles to reach them.
Clubs told the researchers the cost of trained medical personnel prevented them providing the same provision to all of their teams and for both training and match days.
The researchers also believe there’s a lack of awareness within smaller clubs of the importance of adequate medical provision.
Research associate at Coventry University’s School of Life Science Dr Cain Clark said: “These were shocking results.
“We have serious concerns for players’ health, safety and welfare and are urging the RFU to look at this issue in depth and overhaul the regulations to protect players.
“There have been really high profile discussions about concussion and head injuries in rugby at the Premier League and international level.
“But no one is talking about the thousands of people across the country who play grassroots rugby every weekend and are being put at risk because clubs don’t have the correct medical standards in place.
“At the end of the day, we want a safer environment for people to play the sport they love.”
