Concussion in the community setting -A referee’s perspective

By Mary Pringle, May 24th 2021

We’ve all heard about concussion in the professional rugby scene, its effects, and the protocols that are being reevaluated by governing bodies. But what about concussion in domestic and community rugby. We know that concussion can have serious after-effects and can be very dangerous, even more so in children, but what is being done in community rugby to raise awareness and prevent concussions?

As a referee I can say that from all my experiences around the world, that player safety is the biggest priority in rugby. In fact, from day 1 of being a referee I was taught the importance of protocols and how laws are created to facilitate safe play. In rugby there are various opportunities for concussion to come about, with tackling, rucking, and scrummaging in particular, and in these specific facets of the game, referees are not only asked to prioritise player safety but also not to tolerate anything that puts someone at risk or in danger. For this reason we have seen constant change around high tackle protocols and sanctions from World Rugby, there is no longer tolerance for any head contact, and we’ve seen lots of red cards given to show that this behaviour is not only dangerous but can have extreme consequences. We see these protocols being applied not only at high- performance level, but also at domestic level. Referees are being trained to deal with concussions as well as areas of the games where concussion may arise. World Rugby have online information courses which all referees are advised to do and we have many webinars and guest speakers within community levels which help to inform our decision making.

As a referee at domestic level it can be challenging to make the correct decisions regarding head or neck contact. We don’t have the luxury of slow-mo replays or television match officials, a lot of the time we’re by ourselves, surrounded by coaches and fans who don’t always agree with our decisions. It would not be surprising for a coach or even a team medic to express their distaste with a referee when their star player is asked to leave the field due to a suspected concussion. Although the referee has the authority to ask any player to leave the field if they suspect a head injury/concussion, it can sometimes be difficult to withstand external pressures and make the tough calls- especially if you’re not a medical professional. Additionally, while it is a priority that referees help to protect players, it is also the responsibility of other stakeholders around us (e.g., coaches, parents) to speak up. To help referees combat these tense situations, there have been protocols introduced such as “Recognise and Remove” where depending on the competition, there is no concussion test conducted, a player is simply removed from the game as a precaution. Similarly, referees, coaches, and players are becoming more aware and educated around the effects of concussion, and with this we have aligned our focus on player welfare, which helps to reduce conflicts that may arise. I personally have never had to argue with a coach or medic to take their player off the field. In this day and age it is my experience that we are all acutely aware of the danger of concussion, and no game is more valuable than a person. Even to the extent where players don’t need a referee or a medic to tell them to leave the field, they are able to recognise symptoms and many are strong-willed enough to remove themselves, so as to protect themselves.

Rugby as a sport has been very active in adjusting the laws and protocols to protect players, at both domestic and professional levels. Referees are constantly briefed on the importance of concussion prevention and our role in protecting players. From the outside it may appear that rugby has not adjusted well, but I can say confidently that I feel everyone within the rugby community is prioritising player safety and we are constantly trying to be better. That being said, at grassroots levels it can be very difficult to see these impacts, especially when you’re by yourself, which is why it’s so important for us all to work as a team.

Mary Pringle is a rugby referee, a student at the University of Edinburgh, and a writer for the ‘The Student’.