Health and player welfare have become key topics in Scottish rugby – not just at Murrayfield, but at every grassroots club across the nation. For a sport that thrives on physicality, the focus has shifted from just winning collisions to dealing with the aftermath.
The biggest worry continues to be concussion and its long-term impact on brain health. A significant study from the University of Glasgow revealed that former male international rugby players in Scotland are at a greater risk of neurodegenerative diseases compared to the general population. Meanwhile, research from Scottish Rugby indicates that concussion is the most frequent injury for both men and women at the international level, with rates exceeding 20 per 1,000 hours of playing time.
In response, Scottish Rugby has put in place a bunch of measures to cut down on risks. A groundbreaking study revealed that lowering the tackle height (from shoulder to below the sternum) in community men’s games resulted in a 45% drop in head-on-head collisions.
It’s clear that technique and changes in the rules are important. Additionally, the governing body’s “Concussion Hub” stresses that any player suspected of having a concussion must be taken off the field right away and must adhere to a step-by-step return-to-play protocol.
Looking beyond just head injuries, the focus on welfare is expanding. For instance, the SRU has published specific guidance on women’s health, including “breaking the silence: why breast health matters in rugby,” which points out how equipment, biomechanics, and culture uniquely impact female players.
Even with these encouraging developments, there are still significant challenges at the grassroots and club levels. Amateur clubs often don’t have the medical resources (the term “onsite health care professional” is often mentioned) to keep an eye on head injuries or to implement complete return-to-play protocols. The high injury rates observed in elite groups highlight the risks present at every level of the sport. For instance, the injury toll in the Scottish international teams amounts to thousands of days lost for every 1,000 hours.
For grassroots clubs, this means practical vigilance: ensuring coaches are trained in spotting concussion symptoms, enforcing removal from play, emphasising safe technique (especially tackling), and encouraging a culture where players speak up rather than “tough it out”. The lowered tackle height study suggests behavioural change is possible – but only if coached and enforced.
What’s the good news? Behaviour is shifting. The tackle-height change is yielding results, and the player welfare policies reflect a modern, holistic view of the athlete not just as a performer but as a human being with long-term health implications. The focus on women’s and girls’ unique health needs is also heartening.
But the bad news is real: the risk remains, and for many clubs the resources may not match the intent. The sport is physically intense by nature, but the standard of care off the pitch must keep pace. There’s also the broader ethical question raised by the brain-health studies – how much risk is acceptable? And how far should clubs, unions and players go to mitigate it?
