A Heads Up About Headgear

It is generally accepted that headgear will prevent surface wounds. It is far less clear whether they will protect against concussion.

Raphael Ibanez doesn't, Richie McCaw does, George Smith will sometimes. They have all chosen whether or not to wear headgear, or what used to be known as a scrum cap.

The use of headgear in rugby is highly variable, with some teams making it mandatory. The regulations have changed considerably over the years, from outright bans, to ways to wear headgear, to the official IRB guidelines on protective headgear. Ultimately, it is the referee who determines if a particular piece of headgear is acceptable or not, based on the IRB's rules.

Reasons to wear headgear

To protect you / your players' heads from cuts and abrasions.
To protect you / your players' ears when scrummaging, including against "cauliflower ears" – which is why you won't see many backs or hookers, interestingly, wearing headgear.
It is helpful when coming back from a minor cut, or stitches to the head, if the scar tissue has not yet fully healed.

Reasons NOT to wear headgear

To protect you / your players from concussion. (The evidence about whether headgear can protect against concussion is inconclusive.)
To protect you / your players when coming back more quickly from concussion.
To protect you / your players from neck injuries.
There is always a danger a player feels safer with the headgear on and makes foolish decisions about contact situations.

There is no medical proof that headgear can protect a player from getting concussion. It is also unlikely that the padding will significantly reduce the forces of impact. In fact, the padding is only 1cm at the thickest point. It is also only allowed to cover specific areas.

The IRB has laid down specific regulations on which headgear meets its requirements. The IRB say that all headgear worn in games should conform to these standards and have the appropriate IRB label inside. The IRB website (www.irb.com) lists the companies who have met with their approval and the products which have passed the test.

It is the coach's responsibility to check all headgear, before and during the season, and to make players aware of the reasons behind wearing the headgear.