Rugby First Aid Provision & Information
1. Community Rugby: An Introduction to First Aid & Immediate Care Pitchside Provision
An introduction and overview of what clubs and other rugby activity providers are required to have in place and can do to provide best practice first aid / immediate are provision.
2. Community Rugby: Pitchside First Aid Immediate Care Provision for Training & Matches
An overview of the first aid /immediate care provision standards and guidelines including for Age Grade rugby, Adult rugby, ERDPP and CB Representative rugby, and Tournaments and Festivals.
3. Emergency First Aider & Immediate Care Practitioner Role Information
Additional information on the role of an Emergency First Aider (EFA) and Immediate Care Practitioner (ICP) in rugby.
4. Emergency First Aid & Immediate Care Training
Provides information on first aid training including the Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union (EFARU) course, and other relevant qualifications that are accepted and recognised for EFAs covering rugby activity.
EFARU Course Details for 2024-25 season:
Duration: One Day (6.5 hours) or Split Course (2 x 3 hours)
Price: £55 per person
Minimum Learner Age: 18 years old
A club, school, college or university can organise an EFARU course. To do so, visit
the EFARU tutor map and following the process within the EFARU course booking chart.
To attend the course, an e-learning pre-course module must be completed.
To run a course a min. of 8 learners is required, with a max. of 12. Where clubs don’t have the min. numbers, the course can be opened up to other clubs/members of the public.
Visit the England Rugby Course Booking Page for available places.
5. Healthcare Professional and Allied Healthcare Professional Information
Additional information on Healthcare Professionals including training requirements, roles and responsibilities and insurance.
6. First Aid for Sport
We have teamed up with Firstaid4sport to create an RFU landing page containing all the kits and
refills your clubs will need to ensure they can provide first aid support at training and pitch side on
match day.
7. London Hearts
London Hearts is an England wide charity and one of the leading heart charities in the UK for placing defibrillators in communities and delivering CPR and defibrillator training. Working with England Rugby, London Hearts can support clubs, provide guidance on the purchase of defibrillators for rugby clubs who don’t currently already have this lifesaving equipment. It also provides support to clubs who already have a defibrillator on site. With every package, London Hearts provides an online CPR and defibrillator training video and ongoing support, including advice on purchasing and maintenance of an AED unit.
Grants & Funding
London Hearts has internal funding available of up to £300 per England Rugby Club, and can assist you in finding additional funding that may be available for clubs.
For more information please visit the dedicated London Hearts page.
Community Rugby First Aid and Immediate Care Information
Guidance and information for clubs and other rugby activity organisers on recommended pitch-side provision for first aid/immediate care provision.
This applies to both training and matches across the different levels and age-groups in the community game.
Visit Toolkit 4 for a summary of the different section and a .pdf of each one.
Medical Emergency Action Plan
Clubs and rugby activity providers should have a Medical Emergency Action Plan (MEAP) in place to identify needs and protocols in an emergency situation.
A MEAP should consider all those involved and provide a simple, safe and systematic approach to ensure that any emergencies can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.
It is important that the MEAP is effectively communicated to coaches, first aiders and any others who would be involved in the incident management during an emergency.
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
There are more than 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests across the UK every year but less than one in ten people survive. The more defibrillators that are accessible, and the more people trained in how to use them, the better the chance of survival for someone who suddenly collapses from a cardiac arrest.
Clubs and other rugby activity providers may want to consider getting an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), especially if they are a hub for community activity. An AED on site may prove a lifesaver, as the potential for saving a life is dependent on time: the faster medical help is administered, the better the chance of survival.
VIdeo: England Men’s Team undertake training to highlight the importance of knowing CPR and the use of an AED.
