During 2025 the Swedish Rugby union established the Player Welfare committee with the goal to improve all aspects of player welfare in accordance with World Rugby’s recommendations. Further down you can be introduced to its members and their visions for our players future in regard to health, safety and well-being.
Important messages for the 2026 season:
- FAIR: This season it will be mandatory to have at least one person who has a valid First Aid in Rugby education certificate present at ALL games i.e. for all ages. It is the responsibility of the hosting team to ensure this is done. Statistically, it is recommended that three people/team (team, not club) are educated to ensure this happens. Anyone can do the course, coaches, parents, friends and volunteers.
To plan a course for your club/team, please contact amy.valter@hotmail.com for the northern region, monica.haljestig@rugby.se for the western and south regions.
- Tackle height: After years of research, across Europe and the rest of the world, the SRF have decided to adopt the sternum tackle height which will bring us in line with community rugby in a growing number of nations within Rugby Europe. For the 2026 seasion we will lower the tackle height to the sternum which has been proven to lower the risk of concussion and other injuries in rugby matches at all levels.
Online webinars will be held on the 5th, 12th and 26th of March, links can be found at https://rugby.se/kurser/.
More information can be found at: https://rugby.se/2026/01/22/2026-tackle-hojd/
- EAP: Every club must now make an Emergency Action Plan for their pitches and must share it with the visiting team at least two weeks before the game. The committee is making a template to make the process easier and it will soon be uploaded on the website linked below.
- Recognize and remove: This has been the rule for a long time within rugby but will now be reinforced more strictly. This means that if there are any signs of concussion, or suspiscious trauma that can cause concussion, the player will not be allowed to continue play. See more information here: https://www.world.rugby/the-game/player-welfare/medical/concussion/recognise-and-remove
- Website: To find more information about Player welfare you can follow this link:
Player welfare in general:
- We would like to remind you that all clubs must by law check the criminal record of their leaders, coaches etc. This is to protect all our players but especially our youths.
- There are several educations on the world rugby passport all leaders and players are recommended to do:
- Keep rugby clean – https://passport.world.rugby/protect-the-game/keep-rugby-clean/
- Safeguarding – https://passport.world.rugby/safeguarding/
- Concussion management for the general public – https://passport.world.rugby/player-welfare-medical/concussion-management-for-the-general-public/
And in regard to concussion, we can also recommend World Rugby´s app – Rugby Concussion Management.
The medical Committee:
Sofie Blume – Cheif Medical Officer – in charge of the Swedish Medical policy, national protocols and coordination with World rugby.
Magnus Andersson – Safeguarding Officer – in charge of the safety of our players and the management of incidents. Chairman of Göteborg Rugbyförening and B18 Coach in Region West. Has been coaching children for 15 years and being a scout leader for ten years. Works as a teacher outside of rugby.
Monica Häljestig –
Julian Bevan – Referee Manager – responsible for match official development and training in Sweden and qualified as a World Rugby Match Officials Trainer
Amy Valter – part of the Player Welfare committee. Educator for World Rugby in First Aid in Rugby. The doctor for Erikslunds senior rugby team and previously the doctor of Junior Vikings (the youth national team). Works as a pediatrician outside of rugby.