At Oakham Rugby Club, the welfare of our players is our highest priority. Head injuries and suspected concussion are taken extremely seriously, and we ask all players, coaches, team managers, first aiders, and parents to familiarise themselves with the official England Rugby guidance.

We strongly encourage everyone involved at Oakham RFC to visit England Rugby’s dedicated HEADCASE webpage, where you can access concussion awareness training and resources:

England Rugby HEADCASE

This guidance is based on the England Rugby HEADCASE Programme, updated in April 2023 in line with the UK Government’s Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport.

Key Recommendations

Any player suspected of having sustained a concussion must be assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional, or by calling NHS 111 within 24 hours of the injury.
Players should follow a Graduated Return to Activity and Sport (GRAS), starting with rest and progressing step by step back to rugby.
If symptoms persist beyond 28 days, the player should be reviewed by an appropriate healthcare professional.
The earliest possible return to competition is 21 days, and only if the player has been symptom-free for the previous 14 days.

Immediate Action on the Pitch

If there is any concern that a player has sustained a concussion during training or a match, they must be:

IMMEDIATELY REMOVED from the field of play.
Only allowed to return when they have completed the full HEADCASE recovery protocol.

The HEADCASE Recovery Protocol

Stage 1: Initial Rest

24–48 hours of relative rest after concussion.

Stage 2: Daily & Light Physical Activity

Gentle daily tasks and light exercise, starting no earlier than 24 hours after the concussion.

Stage 3: Aerobic Exercise & Low-Load Training

Light aerobic exercise and low-level bodyweight training, as long as symptoms do not worsen.

Stage 4: Rugby-Specific Non-Contact Training

Rugby drills and resistance training, no earlier than Day 8.

Only progress to Stage 5 if symptom-free at rest for 14 consecutive days.

Stage 5: Full Contact Training

Full rugby training, no earlier than Day 15, and only if symptom-free.

Stage 6: Return to Play

Full match play, no earlier than Day 21, and only if the player has been symptom-free at rest and during training for the preceding 14 days.

Resources

The following resources are available on the HEADCASE webpage:

Concussion recognition tools for both adults and children (for use by everyone, not just medical staff).

A free online concussion awareness module for all involved in rugby.
Full details of the Graduated Return to Activity and Sport (GRAS) process.
Access to the latest research and World Rugby’s laws relating to concussion.
A downloadable pitch-side concussion guide.

For further medical advice:
NHS Guidance on Head Injuries & Concussion