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Northern Region Representative Rugby

8.0 Medical Support

8.1 Prior to Match or Tournament Matches

Individual Matches

1. Host union must appoint a First-Aid trained person prior to the match and communicate the details of this person in the Visiting Team Information sheet, prior to the match.

2. The First-Aider must introduce themselves to the opposing team manager / physio prior to the match.

3. The First-Aider is responsible for the management of serious injuries where an ambulance service is required.

4. The First-Aider must be aware of NZR protocols for serious injuries, Blue Card protocols and ideally experienced in dealing with emergency scenarios.

5. The match cannot proceed without a trained First-Aider.  A trained first-aider can be a physiotherapist, a volunteer who has done the FAIR Course, a suitably qualified St Johns volunteer or a volunteer nurse or doctor.

Tournaments / Finals Day

6. Where an event includes 8 or more 7’s or 15’s teams an Ambulance and Medic(s) must also be on site preferably with mobility to get around a large venue


8.2 When a Serious Injury Occurs


1. The trained First Aider will take control of the incident. The trained First Aider may require assistance from team and PU and host Club personal. For example:

  • Calling 111 and arrange for an ambulance to transport the injured player to hospital – PU Match Manager to facilitate.
  • Ensure that there is emergency access available to the ground at all times – Host Club liaison official to manage.


8.3 Following the match

1. Serious injury report forms and Provincial Union follow up forms are available online on Union websites. Serious injury forms must be returned to the Provincial Union for injuries that meet the following criteria:

  • Any head or neck injury that requires the player to be transported directly from the ground to an emergency department, hospital or after hours medical centre (both the match referee and the coach of the injured player must complete a report)
  • Any injury that results in the admission of a player to hospital (the coach of the injured player must complete a report)
  • Any injury that is expected to prevent a player from playing for a period of 8 weeks or longer (the coach of the injured player must complete a report)
  • Death (the coach of the deceased player must complete a report)

2. Coaches and referees must complete a serious injury form for those injuries meeting the criteria as soon as possible following the injury, and in all cases within 48 hours of the injury coming to their notice.

3. Provincial Unions must forward the form to the NZR or enter it onto the Serious Injury Reporting module of the Player Management database with 24 hours of receipt.

4. In the event of a death, or if the player is hospitalised with a spinal injury or very serious head injury, as a backup to the serious injury form, call both Steve Lancaster (General Manager Community Rugby, New Zealand Rugby 021 528 737) and Lisa Kingi-Bon (lisa@rugby-foundation.org.nz , 0212127399) CE of NZ Rugby Foundation, with the latest information on the player’s whereabouts and current situation is necessary ASAP.

5. If necessary, the NZ Rugby Foundation will then arrange for counselling for the family of the injured player. If families have to be transported to the hospital (e.g. Burwood Spinal Unit) the Rugby Foundation will arrange for transportation and accommodation for family members as near to the location of the hospital as possible.

6. The NZRU has a Community Rugby Insurance Programme that all teams including senior players, reserves, coaches, managers, rugby administration (whilst acting in an official capacity), medical professionals as well as a referee, ball boys and two touch judges on match days can claim against.

7. If the injury is of sufficient severity that a claim against the NZR All Players Insurance Policy may result, the Rugby Foundation will send insurance claim forms to the Provincial Union. Ensure that once insurance claim forms have been received that they are completed with all the relevant information and medical back up reports and returned to the NZR Insurance Brokers with a copy to the Rugby Foundation.

8. The Rugby Foundation will then keep a watching brief on the injured player and any requirements the family may have.

9. Support from team and club members is important so please ensure that those parties are kept abreast of all developments and arrange visits to the injured player at his/her convenience.


2024 Update

9.0 Blue Card Protocols

1. NZ Rugby have made the application of the Blue Card Protocols mandatory for Senior Rugby for all NPC/FPC PU’s and Heartland PU’s are being encouraged to implement the protocols also.

2. All Northern Region Representative Competitions will be subject to Blue Card Concussion Protocols. If a referee is not qualified/trained for Blue Card such as Thames Valley or King Country or some age group referees in the NPC/FPC PU’s, then the protocol need not be used, however Coaches and managers need to apply return to play concussion protocols as in the past in that situation.

3. If a Northern Region player receiving a Blue Card returns to play before completion of the standown period the player, coach and/or manager will be stood down for the remainder of the Northern Region season.

4. The Referee is required to submit a Blue Card Report to the PU of the player who was Blue Carded. This must be received by the PU within 48 hours of the games completion.

5. PU’s are to manage the Blue Card administrative protocols and ensure compliance by the team officials.                


2024 Update