What must I do if a player might be concussed, and when can they play again?

RFU Regulation 9 and the HEADCASE guidance (aligned with the UK Concussion Guidelines for Grassroots Sport) apply to all age grade matches and training. Recognise and remove: "If in doubt, sit them out."

On the day

• Remove any player with even one sign or symptom of concussion immediately and permanently. They must not return to rugby that day, however quickly they seem to recover.
• They should be assessed by an onsite healthcare professional or through NHS 111 within 24 hours.
• Red flags (loss of consciousness, deteriorating consciousness, seizure, repeated vomiting, severe or increasing headache, severe neck pain, new weakness, numbness or double vision) need urgent assessment at A&E, calling 999 if necessary. If a neck injury is suspected, only trained healthcare professionals should move the player.
• Coaches, team-mates, officials and parents who suspect concussion must do their best to get the player off safely and quickly.
• Head Injury Assessment (HIA) temporary replacements only apply in specified elite competitions such as the U18 Prem Rugby Academy League, not in club or school age grade rugby.

Return to play (GRAS, 6 stages)

Every suspected concussion goes through the full programme, even if symptoms clear quickly, and the priority is returning to normal life and school before rugby. Anyone still symptomatic after 28 days should see their GP.