Dr Tore Bach-Gansmo (Overlege nuclear medicine, Oslo)
Dr David McDonagh (Olympiatoppen doctor. Consultant, Accident & Emergency Department at St. Olav's hospital, Trondheim)
General Disclaimer
Rugby is a contact sport with inherent risks and it is ultimately up to individual players to
determine if they are fit to play. However, the IRB and NRF consider player safety a major priority
and there are a number of regulations and guidelines in place to help prevent serious injury (see below).
Please note, it is also the player's responsibility to guard against taking substances that are prohibited
by Anti-Doping Norge (ADN). If you are taking any medication at ALL, you are strongly advised to check it isn't
on ADN's Prohibited List.
Concussions
IRB regulations state that a player who has suffered a concussion, regardless of severity,
shall not play or train for a minimum period of three weeks from the time of the injury,
and only when symptom-free and declared fit by qualified medical personnel.
The 3 week layoff period may be reduced for senior players if they are symptom free and
declared fit by a neurological specialist.
Local anaesthetic
Players are not allowed to receive local anaesthetic on game-day, except for suturing
or dental treatment when administered by a qualified doctor or dentist.
Blood bin
Players with bleeding or open wounds must leave the field for treatment (i.e. go to the 'blood-bin')
and they can not resume playing until the bleeding is controlled and the wound has been covered.
Medical personnel should ensure that all blood-stained clothing, headgear, and dressings are replaced
before the player is allowed to return to the game.
Players in the blood-bin are allowed to have treatment for up to 15 minutes;
after that time, they cannot rejoin the game.
Pregnancy
Ladies are advised not to play if they are pregnant.
Front row
If any of the front row players are inexperienced, scrums will be uncontested.
The inexperience of front row players, or substitutes, must be brought to the
attention of the referee by the Coach or Team Captain well in advance of the first scrum.
Blood bin
Referees have discretionary powers to decide if a player is too injured to continue playing,
in which case the player must leave the field.
A referee can also order a player to leave the field to be examined by medical staff.
Players in the blood-bin are allowed to have treatment for up to 15 minutes;
after that time, they cannot rejoin the game.
Coaches' responsibilities
It is the coaches' responsibility to side-line any player who is known to have a
serious medical ailment (e.g. has recently had a heart attack/major surgery),
and report the matter to the Medisinsk utvalg.
The clubs' responsibility
If you have any questions about rugby-related medical issues, please contact:
