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00:00Here at the WRU, we have developed a wide range of concussion guidelines to support
00:10players, coaches, referees, administrators and family members. This is to understand
00:17the importance of recognising and properly managing players with a concussion.
00:23Our new WRU Graduated Return to Play tool guides a player through the rehabilitation
00:29stages following a concussion or suspected concussion. These are suggested activities
00:34in each stage which may be used to gradually increase the amount, intensity and or type
00:39of exercise that the player does to ensure a safe and successful return to sport.
00:46I was playing for Plas Mawr, I went down to make a tackle and I got a knee to the face.
00:54I was at a community park, I made a tackle, it sort of landed and my head hit the floor.
00:59It rendered me unconscious and when I came to my coach and the medical staff came round
01:04and helped me up. Consequently I stood up and was really off
01:06balance, I felt a bit sick and just like confused at what had just taken place.
01:12They explained to me what happened and during this time I felt dizzy, nauseous and scared.
01:18Luckily for me, our first aider was on site and saw that I was unsteady on my feet and
01:23I didn't look myself. So I was taken off the pitch and diagnosed with a concussion
01:29shortly afterwards. Our new WRU Graduated Return to Play tool
01:33guides the player through the rehabilitation stages following a concussion or suspected
01:38concussion. In the event of a suspected concussion, please
01:41remember to recognise and remove. If in doubt, sit them out.
01:45As a coach we have access to resources through the Welsh Rugby Union game locker to provide
01:50educational guidance to the club. We also are lucky that first aiders in Wales have
01:57access to free first aid courses provided by the Welsh Rugby Union.
02:01So the 21 day period can feel like a long time and it was frustrating to see the girls
02:05in training and sort of cracking on without me. I did miss a few games. I knew I was doing
02:10the right thing for myself and my mental health and wellbeing in the long run and to safeguard
02:15myself to make sure that I fully recover and I am able to come back on the pitch one day.
02:20We recognise at the WRU that there can be some anxiety around injuries in our sport.
02:24So let's all work together to keep the game as safe as we can by recognising and removing
02:28when appropriate and following the protocols. So I continue to play rugby because of the
02:33benefits that it's given me throughout my life, the friendships I've made, the career
02:38I've built off the back of it and just the thing of knowing that every weekend I get
02:43to take the field with my best friends and play a game that really serves me in a really
02:49positive way. I understand that concussion is a risk but knowing the risks and how to
02:55mitigate for those risks is the best way that we can tackle it. So yeah, I continue to play
02:59with the knowledge of how to keep myself safe in the best way.
03:02The WRU can provide player welfare guidance throughout our game to develop and support
03:07community rugby in Wales. For more information, please visit the WRU website or WRU Game Locker.