Injured Player Protocol

To allow the appropriate support to be put in place, it is crucial that all reportable injury events are submitted to the RFU. These are defined as: 

• An injury which results in the player being admitted to a hospital. 
• Deaths which occur during or within six hours of a game finishing. 
   
• It DOES NOT include those that attend an Accident or Emergency Department and who are then allowed home.  
• A reportable event can be submitted via the webform link below or, if your club has access, via the Proactive App. 

When a RFU reportable event occurs, the following procedures and reporting protocols should be followed:  

1. Provide immediate first aid and arrange ambulance transfer as needed. 
2. Complete the online Reportable Injury Event Form or use the Proactive App (if available). 
3. Contact the RFU Injury Reporting Helpline (0800 298 0102) once the seriousness of the player’s condition is confirmed, and certainly within 48 hours of the injury event. 
4. Notify your insurance provider. 
5. Collect factual witness statements (signed, dated) and store them securely. Where a potential insurance or personal injury claim may arise, clubs and schools are advised to retain witness statements on file. These statements must confine themselves to the facts and not include opinion, hearsay or apportion or infer blame. They must be signed and dated by the person making the statement. 
   
   

• In the event of a potentially catastrophic injury or fatality, once notified, the RFU Injured Players Foundation (IPF) will get in touch with the club and/or player or next of kin to confirm the injury and identify any immediate welfare needs.