Can coaches or team managers go onto the field to help an injured player?
Rule- South Africa
- SA Rugby
- Youth Weeks
- Craven Week
- U13-U18
- Schools rugby
- 2026
- Parents
No. Under SA Rugby's 2026 tournament medical standards, coaches, assistant coaches and team managers may never enter the field of play to help or remove an injured player. Breaking this rule can lead to a disciplinary hearing and removal from the tournament.
- On-field injuries are handled by the contracted tournament medical staff.
- A team's own doctor, or a physiotherapist with a current First Aid qualification, may roam the touchline in a "Medical" bib only if declared and approved beforehand, with their qualifications uploaded to Footprint.
- For a serious concussion, head, neck or spine injury, the emergency personnel and tournament doctor take charge. A team physiotherapist may only assist; a team doctor may manage the situation with the emergency staff.
- Off the field, the tournament doctor remains ultimately responsible for every injured player.
Added 22 Oct 2026