Recognise
and remove
If you see any one of these signs, the player comes off and does not play again that day. That is the whole rule, and it applies at every age from the U7s to the senior teams.
- They are knocked out, or you are not sure whether they were
- They have a seizure or convulsion
- They have neck or spine pain, or cannot move their arms or legs
- They are getting worse rather than better
- They vomit repeatedly, or are increasingly confused or drowsy
Do not move them if you suspect a neck or spine injury. Stay with them until help arrives.
If a player shows any one of these signs, remove them from play immediately. They must not return to play the same day.
- Loss of consciousness, suspected or actual
- Seizure or convulsion
- Abnormal movement of the arms or legs
- Balance problems, falling over, unsteady on their feet
- Lying motionless on the ground
- Grabbing or clutching their head
- Slow to get up, or up on hands and knees for support
- Confused or dazed
- Disorientated
- Play is "just not right"
- More emotional than usual, or a change in behaviour
- Headache or "pressure in the head"
- Nausea or vomiting, blurred vision
- Memory loss
- Drowsiness or dizziness
- Irritable, nervous or anxious
- Feeling slowed down, or sensitive to light
- Sadness, fatigue or low energy
Later that day or the next, watch for any of the above plus drowsiness, low energy, trouble sleeping or trouble concentrating.
What to do
- 1. StopTake them off the pitch straight away. Do not let them play on.
- 2. StayKeep them with an adult. Do not leave them on their own.
- 3. TellTell their parent or guardian before they leave the ground.
- 4. AssessThey need to be seen by a healthcare professional.
- 5. No returnThey do not play again that day, whatever they say.
Getting back to playing
Each stage is at least 24 hours, and only if there are no symptoms. Any symptoms and the player goes back to the previous stage.
| Stage | What it is | Activity | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Symptom-limited activity | Daily activities that do not provoke symptoms | 0–1 |
| 2 | Aerobic exercise | Progressively increase aerobic activity | 2–6 |
| 3 | Rugby-specific exercise | Speed and skill work with no risk of head impact | 7–9 |
| 4 | Non-contact drills | Agility, decision-making and complex skill work | 10–15 |
| 5 | Full contact practice | Full contact training | 16 |
| 6 | Return to play | Full unrestricted match play | 23 |
The player must be symptom-free and assessed by a healthcare professional before stage 4.
Club coaching handbook. Follow IRFU guidance and club policy — this is a summary, not a substitute. If you are unsure about a head injury, treat it as a concussion and have the player seen. Nobody has ever regretted taking a child off too early.
Any concern about a player’s welfare goes to the Club Welfare Officer, Carmel Daly on +353 (0) 85 158 8838.