English rugby’s three main stakeholders, Premiership Rugby, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) said educating the game about concussion was “critically important”.

The ‘mandatory online concussion education module’ is a joint initiative, which was first launched in October 2014.

It explains what concussion is, how to recognise its symptoms, on and off the field, and how it feels when a player has experienced a concussion.

“Educating players, referees and non-medical staff about concussion is critically important,” said chief medical officer of the RFU Simon Kemp. “This emphasises how seriously the professional game in England takes the issue.”

The world-leading education programme informs participants of the short, medium and long-term consequences of the condition and the protocols that have been put in place to ensure a safe return to play.

Participants are also tested throughout with a series of questions and more than 1,600 people completed the module including all contracted Premiership Rugby and Championship players, contracted England Sevens players and all Premiership Rugby, Championship and England representative team coaches.

In the women’s game, England representative players over the age of 18 (which also covered England U20, Elite Performance Squad and Sevens players) completed the course. All Premiership Rugby and Championship referees also completed the module.

“Player welfare is Premiership Rugby's number one priority and changing rugby culture through education and raised awareness about concussion is paramount,” added head of rugby operations at Premiership Rugby Corin Palmer.

“The fact that 100% of all stakeholders in the professional game have completed the concussion education module for a second season running demonstrates our commitment to understand and appreciate the complexities surrounding the topic.”

Richard Bryan, RPA rugby director, added: “Delivering the online concussion education module for the second year running demonstrates the fundamental importance placed upon concussion education by the RPA, RFU and Premiership Rugby.”

England RFU - Author