Our unwavering dedication to brain injury prevention drives us to continuously implement evidence-based strategies and make a positive impact on the wellbeing of our rugby community. Through education, research, protocols, and collaboration, we proactively address concussion risks and support our players' long-term health.
Concussion and the potential consequences of forces to the head are one of the biggest issues facing modern day rugby and contact sports in general. The more we can do to manage the risks of concussion and support brain health, the better the health of game and its players.
New Zealand Rugby, the Rugby Players Association and the New Zealand Rugby Foundation are working together to reduce concussion risk, strengthen injury management, and support safe participation at all levels of the game. This is set out in the 2026-2027 Brain Health and Concussion Plan.
This plan sets out the objectives and practical initiatives being undertaken across the rugby system, to support everyone in rugby to play their part to prevent and manage concussion.
2026-2027 Brain Health and Concussion Plan
Player welfare is at the heart of our thinking. To support injury prevention and management, we have a range of player initiatives in place that promote player safety and reduce the severity and incidence of concussion.
What We DoEducation & Training is focused on providing clear, consistent education and training that helps players, coaches, officials, medical staff and whānau understand concussion risks, recognise symptoms early, and make decisions that prioritise brain health.
Through Injury Prevention, we continue refining training practices, game laws, formats and player load to ensure concussion prevention keeps pace with emerging insights and evolving participation needs.
Injury Management is focused on providing individualised support for all players (community, professional and retired) so that they receive the care they need based on their individual circumstances.
We take an evidence-based approach to decision making, underpinned by the Research & Monitoring pillar, using reporting behaviours, education uptake, injury data quality, and compliance to inform this Plan, strengthen concussion risk management, promote player safety, and continuously evolve the game.
Policies, Laws & Regulations ensures our frameworks are regularly reviewed in line with evolving research and continue to support effective injury prevention and management.
Note: Safety initiatives are making serious injuries in rugby increasingly rare.