How long must a player sit out after a concussion?

USA Youth & High School Rugby's concussion policy sets these steps for youth and high school players:

1. Rest: at least 14 full days of complete rest, and the player must be symptom-free.
2. Graduated Return to Play (GRTP): a 5-day step-by-step protocol, which starts only after the rest period.
3. Clearance: the player must be symptom-free and cleared in writing by a qualified healthcare professional trained in evaluating and treating concussion.

That means the earliest a player can return to contact rugby is about 19 days after the diagnosis. Contact is not allowed until the full GRTP is complete and the player is symptom-free.

Even after clearance, coaches, parents, teammates and medical staff should keep watching for lingering symptoms. If any return, remove the player from play immediately.