RFU set to introduce delayed mouthguard trial to combat concussion crisis
This is based on a piece by www.thetimes.co.uk
Every elite male and female player in England will be offered the chance to wear a “smart” mouthguard next season as rugby attempts to reduce concussions.
A Progressive Rugby reported exclusively in November 2021 that the project using cutting-edge technology to gather critical data across the Gallagher Premiership so club’s medical teams can understand how to best manage and protect players had been delayed.
In July 2021, the RFU announced an action plan aimed at reducing both the exposure to head impacts and concussion risk within men’s and women’s elite rugby matches and training in England.
As part of that plan, launched following a wave of concerning studies linking brain damage and depression with the game, the governing body had said a league wide instrumented mouthguard (iMG) project was to take place during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership seasons.
But the RFU confirmed that the process has stalled due to issues in the tendering process and said it would be introduced until the 2022/23 season at the very earliest.
Currently, the governing body is still unable to confirm the supplier or whether the contract has been awarded.
“Currently, the governing body is still unable to confirm the supplier or whether the contract has been awarded.”