First Aid Provision & Injury Reporting
The First Aid Provision and Injury Reporting resources include the downloadable RFU reportable event form and the Proactive incident reporting tool.
They also provide information for clubs and other rugby activity organisers on recommended pitch-side first aid/immediate care provision for training and matches as well as guidance on creating a Medical Emergency Action Plan and AED provision.
The training section gives information on the RFU’s Emergency First Aid on Rugby Union (EFARU) course.
RFU Reportable Events
These are defined as:
- An injury which results in the player being admitted to a hospital
- Deaths which occur during or within six hours of a game finishing
It DOES NOT include those that attend an Accident or Emergency Department and who are then allowed home.
The Reportable Injury Event Protocol can be accessed here:
Download Reportable Injury Event Protocol
A reportable event can be submitted via the webform linked below or if your club has access, via the Proactive App.
RFU-Reportable-Injury-Event-Form
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.
Download Introduction to First Aid & Immediate Care Provision
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.
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.
Emergency First Aid & Immediate Care Training
Following a review of the Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union (EFARU) course, from 1st July 2025, England Rugby will no longer deliver face-to-face EFARU courses. Moving forward, the minimum qualification required for emergency first aiders involved in rugby will remain a Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or an equivalent nationally recognised qualification.
As many clubs are already doing, we encourage them to source first aid training from the wide range of local and national training providers. This approach offers clubs greater flexibility in arranging training and helps to reduce volunteer burden.
When selecting a training provider, clubs should ensure the qualification is a Level 3 EFAW or equivalent and covers key first aid skills including basic life support (as set out in the Regulated Qualifications Framework).
We will be provide materials including rugby-specific guidance that clubs can use when they engage with First Aid Training providers on this page from 1st July.
Thank you for your continued commitment to player welfare.
Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union CPD Modules
New for the 2024-25 season the Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union (EFARU) CPD modules are designed to give qualified Emergency First Aiders a refresher of the skills and information provided in the face-to-face Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union course.
(This course is not intended to replace the full EFARU course but to support the skills of those who have a current qualification as an emergency first aider.)
Module One: To access the course click here
Module Two: To access the course click here
Module Three: To access the course click here
Healthcare Professional and Allied Healthcare Professional Information
Additional information on Healthcare Professionals including training requirements, roles and responsibilities and insurance.
Howden Risk Assessment Tool
As part of a club's Regulation 9 responsibilities, they must complete an annual first aid risk assessment. It should be reviewed/updated each season between the beginning of July and the end of September.
To support clubs and rugby activity organisers with this responsibility, the RFU have worked with Howden, the RFU insurance broker, to produce a risk assessment tool for clubs to use.
The Howden Risk Assessment Tool is now integrated into the RFU Game Management System (GMS). To access, please go to the GMS login page and login using your individual GMS details.
Please note: Individuals need GMS Level 3 or above to access the risk assessment tool via their club’s organisational profile.
The following video provides a step-by-step guide on how to access the risk assessment tool via GMS.
Proactive App
It is important clubs and other rugby activity providers have a process in place to ensure that injuries and incidents, both on and off the pitch, are recorded and maintained in a secure manner.
In collaboration with Howden & Proactive we have developed a bespoke incident reporting App to ensure that injuries and incidents, both on and off the pitch, are recorded and maintained in a secure manner.
The Proactive App now has several specifically designed features to help clubs with their injury and incident reporting and other elements of their player welfare responsibilities, including:
- Incident reporting
- Dynamic risk assessment
- Pre-session checks
- Medical Emergency Action Plan Templates
- Concussion Tracker
- Integrated RFU Reportable Event form
The App is easily added to coach and staff mobile devices.
For more information visit the Proactive App Rugby homepage
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.
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.
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.
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. It can also provide 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.
For more information please visit the dedicated London Hearts page.
