SAFE Rugby

Download SAFE Rugby Posters for your club

IRFU SAFE Rugby Level 1 Poster

IRFU SAFE Rugby Level 2 Poster

There are three different levels of SAFE Rugby training available:

• Level 1: Coaches, club officials, referees, parents/guardians (1 day course)
• Level 2: Domestic game medical and allied health professionals (1 day course with assessment)
• Level 3: Restricted to professional game medical staff (2 day course with assessment)

Our Level 2 & 3 courses are recognised for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits. All levels have pre-course on line modules that must be completed before the training day.

The SAFE Rugby Level 1 course is specifically targeted at non-medical club and school coaches, players, referees and parents. Following the same key principles as the other levels, it is very user friendly and allows plenty of time to have all of those questions that you had stowed away to be answered by our instructors.

The SAFE Rugby team are always happy to talk to any club/school or individual who wants to participate in a SAFE Rugby course. In addition to our planned schedule of courses, we welcome any approach to run additional courses. The SAFE Rugby team are also running taping courses for aimed at medics and non-medics now too. Please email Shane Mooney, IRFU Player Welfare Coordinator – or call 086 021 6064 for any further information.

“Professional, well delivered, relevant and valuable”

Junior Coach, St. Marys College RFC

SAFE Rugby has been designed to provide a standardised method of assessment and management of the initial stages of injuries occurring in rugby. Our programme recognises the fact that most people involved in rugby will only deal very occasionally with a significant injury. Our step by step, practical approach will ensure that the participant is confident and competent in looking after all eventualities until professional help arrives.

The SAFE Rugby techniques are adapted from emergency medicine and pre hospital emergency care best practices and are taught by highly experienced and skilled pre hospital care practitioners and senior medical staff from a variety of specialities including anaesthesia, orthopaedics and emergency medicine.

“The tutors were excellent, they built a great rapport with the group and had vast experience that helped the learning process. Well done”

Senior coach, Coleraine RFC

SAFE Rugby courses at all levels include Basic Life Support / Advisory External Defibrillation training and certification by the Irish Heart Foundation as well as a SAFE Rugby certificate from the IRFU, both valid for 2 years. Core skills include the initial approach to an injured player, managing suspected spinal and head injuries, managing fractures and joint injuries and concussion awareness. The instructor / participant ratio is normally 1:6 which allows for plenty of skills practice. The training days are mostly practical in nature and have been extremely well received by all those who have attended.

“First really well pitched first aid course I have attended”

Club official, Rainey Old Boys RFC

“This course should be mandatory for all coaches and referees”

Junior Coach, Young Munster RFC

For information on upcoming courses, please email Shane Mooney, IRFU Player Welfare Coordinator