• Two-day conference to discuss key player welfare topics with experts from across the game
  • Speakers include England’s Danny Care as well as representatives from the NFL, Rugby League and soccer
  • The Conference free to view online by registering at world.rugby

Leading figures from across rugby will gather in Lisbon next week for World Rugby’s annual Medical Commission Conference and Rugby Science Network (RSN) Live event. Union and competition Chief Medical Officers will join with some of the leading academics from around the world and player representatives to share knowledge on improving player welfare.

The one day RSN Live event, followed by the two-day Medical Commission Conference will hear updates on key issues in the sport including:

  • How smart mouthguards are being used by medics and coaches across the game
  • The future of managing head impacts
  • Women specific player welfare
  • Player load

The Conference will hear presentations from England player Danny Care on his experiences with smart mouthguards. It will also hear from representatives from a range of other sports including the NFL, Rugby League and soccer.

Key World Rugby medical working groups on concussion, women’s player welfare, immediate pitchside care and the newly formed injured players charities group will report back on their work over the past year.

The Rugby Science Network Live event takes place on Tuesday 22 October followed by the  Medical Commission Conference, on Wednesday, 23 and Thursday, 24 October. All sessions will be available to view online and anyone interested in the topic of player welfare can register to watch live and submit questions to any of the sessions.

Chief Medical Officer of World Rugby Prof Eanna Falvey looked forward to the discussions to come: “The World Rugby Medical Commission Conference is always a key moment in the rugby calendar. Player welfare remains World Rugby’s number one priority and over the next week we will be sharing all the valuable information gathered so far this year and learning from leading academic experts, rugby medics, players and coaches, as well as leading figures from other global sports.

“We know that we can never stand still on player welfare in rugby and I’d encourage anyone with an interest to join us between 22-24 October to see and hear the level of time, rigor and dedication that is being shown by the sport right around the world on this vitally important part of our game.”