Premiership Rugby clubs have agreed to regulate contact training sessions in a major step towards improving player safety. The new rules follow years of lobbying from the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA), which has long pushed for stricter monitoring of collisions and head impacts during training.
Under the updated framework, clubs will introduce detailed monitoring of contact sessions and record concussion-related data more carefully. The measures aim to reduce the physical burden on players and address growing concerns about long-term brain injuries in rugby.
The changes will take effect from the 2026-27 season and are expected to transform how contact training is managed across the English Premiership.
New Monitoring System Introduced
One of the most significant developments is the use of technology to track head impacts during training. Players will now wear instrumented mouthguards during contact sessions throughout the week rather than only during matches.
These smart mouthguards will help collect data on collisions and potential head injuries. In addition, contact sessions will be recorded on video and uploaded to a central English rugby database for analysis.
Clubs will also be required to log all concussions suffered during training into the system. The aim is to identify patterns, highlight safety concerns and ensure players are better protected during practice sessions.
RPA general secretary Christian Day described the move as a global first in regulating the training environment.
He said the changes would help identify when contact occurs and provide clearer insight into the physical demands players experience during training.
Gradual Return for International Players
The agreement also introduces a staggered return to contact training for international players following their summer break.
Typically, England players who participate in international tours receive a mandatory five-week rest period before returning to their clubs. Under the new system, their return to contact will be gradual to prevent sudden physical overload.
There will be no contact training during the first week of pre-season and full contact will not be permitted until the fourth week. The measure is designed to reduce the risk of injuries when players return from extended breaks.
Clubs that fail to follow the guidelines could face fines or disciplinary action.
Players Push for Safer Training
Concerns about contact training have grown in recent years, particularly after former England hooker Steve Thompson was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Thompson believes repeated head trauma during his career contributed to his condition.
In 2023, a survey conducted by the RPA found that 89 percent of professional players wanted stronger regulation of contact sessions in training.
Currently, World Rugby recommends that teams should not exceed 15 minutes of contact training per week. However, the guideline has not been mandatory and is often exceeded in practice.
The new Premiership framework does not introduce a strict weekly limit but aims to monitor the overall training load more closely.
A Step Forward for Player Welfare
Former England international Ben Youngs believes the new measures represent a crucial step for the sport.
Speaking on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Youngs said limiting the number of collisions during training was vital for protecting players and improving safety standards in elite rugby.
Premiership Rugby director Phil Winstanley added that improving player welfare is essential for the league’s long-term growth.
He said the league aims to become the best in the world and that goal can only be achieved by providing world-leading support to players off the field.
While the new regulations currently apply to the men’s Premiership, similar guidelines are expected to be introduced in Premiership Women’s Rugby in the near future.
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